Ladakh’s first ice hockey tournament of the season is being held as the 12th Late Lady Stanzin Otzes Inter-Village Ice Hockey Tournament in Durbuk village, located in the Lalok region. The tournament is organized with the aim of encouraging local youth to engage in winter sports.
The Lalok region has historically played a key role in promoting ice hockey in Ladakh since the sport was introduced to the area in the 1960s. A total of 8 teams from Lalok, along with two women’s teams, are participating in the tournament.
With the cryogenic winter periods in the Ladakh region for ‘the cold desert’ of the country, such as Pangong Lake and other water bodies in the region, the area is preparing to host the Royal Enfield Ice Hockey League, aimed at encouraging tourism to the ‘highest motor vehicle road around the globe’.
The Fire and Fury Corps of the Indian Army has already conducted and inter village ice hockey tournament on the frozen Pangong Tso Lake at an altitude of 14370 feet. Now, the Royal Enfield Ice Hockey League is poised to return this winter, bringing the thrill of Ladakh’s most cherished winter sport to the fore.