India organized the first National Under 18 Ice Hockey Championship in Leh

11 Feb 2013 | Davide Tuniz

For the first time also women teams battled for a title

Indian Hockey Federation organized the Under 18 National Ice Hockey Championship for boys and for the first time also for girls at Karzoo Ice Hockey Rink in Leh district.

Eight teams competed in men category: J&K Red, J&K blue, Uttarakhand, Himachal, Delhi, Haryana, Chandigarh, Maharashtra.

Five women teams battled for the first title: J&K red, J&K Blue, Delhi, Haryana, Uttarakhand.

Haryana won the men title beating 2-0 Delhi in the final game, while women J&K Blue team begged the cup by beating the runners up team of J&K Red 3-0

J&K Blue team received the Cup (photo by Scoopnews)

Leh District Development Commissioner Tsering Angchuk awarded the winners and said: "This tournament has provided a good opportunity to the young players of the region to showcase their talent and potential in this winter sport and in long run it will prove a mean to represent India at international level. India Hockey Federation must focus Ladakh in their future winter sports activities considering the potential of the sport supported by the geographical condition of the region."

Mr Angchuk also confirmed the plan for the construction of a regular rink: "An ice hockey rink of international standard coming up in Leh, the Council and Administration are putting hard efforts to complete it at the earliest possible with the vision to promote Ice Hockey to the standard of national and international levels. The Open Stadium along with a youth hostel will be constructed in Leh soon and I hope that it will be a great attraction to create opportunities to organize national and international level tournaments in the region."

Akshey Kumar, India Hockey Federation General Secretary highlighted the recent activities carried by IHAI and said that the main objective of organizing this tournament in Leh is to create players for Indian team from Ladakh considering the locals potential in ice hockey.