Leh's first 24x7 ice hockey rink opens, set to boost winter sports

In a major boost to winter sports infrastructure in Ladakh, Lt Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena on Thursday, August 13, inaugurated the Union Territory's first international-level artificial ice hockey rink at NDS Stadium here, describing the facility as a major investment in the future of Ladakh’s young sportspersons.

Built at a cost of approximately Rs 42 crore, the state-of-the-art rink is equipped with a 24x7 chilling facility, enabling ice hockey players to train throughout the year, irrespective of the natural weather conditions.

The Lt Governor termed the facility a landmark investment in Ladakh’s youth and expressed confidence that it would help transform the UT into one of India and the world’s leading winter sports hubs.

He said the project aligns with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of making India a global sporting powerhouse and expanding access to quality sports infrastructure across the country, including remote and border regions such as Ladakh.

“This 24x7 chilling facility will ensure that our young players no longer have to wait for winter to practise. They can now train throughout the year, with the flexibility and continuity required to compete at the highest levels.

"I am confident that this sustained training opportunity will take our players to new heights and enable them to represent India at international sporting events. This rink will strengthen Ladakh’s position on India’s winter sports map,” the Lt Governor said.

Saxena said the facility would also help identify and nurture new talent from Leh and other parts of Ladakh and prepare them systematically for national and international competitions.

Beyond competitive sport, the world-class facility, he said, is expected to generate wider opportunities in sports tourism and the local economy.

A Lok Bhavan spokesman said the facility addresses one of the biggest challenges faced by ice hockey in Ladakh the extremely short natural ice season.

Until now, players were largely dependent on winter months and had only a limited period of around two to three months to train and compete, he said, adding the narrow window also meant that tournaments and other competitions had to be fitted into an already tight seasonal schedule, leaving little scope for sustained training and systematic preparation.

"With the new 24x7 rink, this limitation is set to be overcome. The facility is expected to significantly improve the quality and consistency of preparation of Ladakh’s ice hockey players for national and international-level competitions," the spokesman said.