SRINAGAR: Ladakh has taken a major step towards strengthening its winter sports infrastructure with the inauguration of the Union Territory’s first international-level artificial ice hockey rink at NDS Stadium in Leh on Thursday.
Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena inaugurated the state-of-the-art facility, built at a cost of approximately Rs 42 crore, and described it as a major investment in the future of Ladakh’s young sportspersons.
Equipped with a 24×7 chilling facility, the rink will allow ice hockey players to train throughout the year, irrespective of weather conditions. The facility is expected to address one of the biggest challenges facing the sport in Ladakh, where players have traditionally depended on a natural ice season of only two to three months.
The short season has also restricted the time available for tournaments, competitions and systematic preparation. With year-round artificial ice now available, players are expected to have greater consistency in training and better preparation for national and international competitions.
Saxena said the facility would help transform Ladakh into a leading winter sports hub in India and globally. He said the project was aligned with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of making India a global sporting powerhouse by expanding access to quality sports infrastructure, including in remote and border regions.
“This 24×7 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,” Saxena said.
He expressed confidence that sustained training would enable Ladakh’s players to reach higher levels of competition and represent India at international sporting events.
The Lieutenant Governor said the rink would also help identify and nurture new talent from Leh and other parts of Ladakh and provide them with systematic training for national and international competitions.
Beyond competitive sport, the facility is expected to create opportunities in sports tourism and contribute to the local economy, further strengthening Ladakh’s position as a destination for winter sports.
