Leh, Feb 14/ VOL News Desk/ The Hon’ble Lt Governor of Ladakh, Shri Kavinder Gupta, today said that sports are emerging as a transformative force for Ladakh—empowering youth, strengthening the local economy, and positioning the region prominently on the national and global stage. He stated that Ladakh is successfully converting its harsh winter conditions into opportunities for growth, excellence, and employment.

The Lt Governor was speaking at the concluding ceremony of the Royal Enfield Ice Hockey League Season 3 held at the Nawang Dorjay Stobdan (NDS) Ice Hockey Rink in Leh, marking the successful end of a thrilling tournament organised by Royal Enfield Social Mission in association with the UT Administration of Ladakh and Ice Hockey Association of Ladakh (IHAL). 

In a pulsating men’s final, Humas Warriors clinched the title with a 3-1 victory over Purig Warriors. In the women’s summit clash, Sham Eagles emerged champions by edging out Shakar Chiktan Queens 2-1.

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Shri Kavinder Gupta observed that Ladakh’s winters, once seen as a challenge, have become a symbol of strength, discipline, and innovation. He said that winter sports are opening new avenues for skill development, livelihoods, and sports tourism, while instilling confidence and resilience among the youth.

Highlighting Ice Hockey as Ladakh’s most popular and identity-defining sport, the Lt Governor said that being the state sport of Ladakh, it has become a powerful medium for nurturing talent and enabling young players to represent the region at national and international platforms.

The Lt Governor also welcomed the equal participation of women and men in the league, noting that Ladakh’s daughters are moving forward with confidence and determination. He said that sports are playing an important role in driving positive social change by promoting equality, self-belief, and leadership.

Expressing gratitude to Royal Enfield Social Mission, the Lt Governor said that meaningful partnerships between institutions and local communities create lasting impact and strengthen grassroots sports ecosystems. He lauded the active participation of youth from remote and border areas including Leh, Nubra, Sham, Kargil, Drass, Zanskar, Changthang, and Kharu, stating that Ladakh’s talent is not limited by geography. With the right opportunities and guidance, he said, Ladakh’s youth can excel at every level.

Referring to the successful organisation of the Khelo India Winter Games, he said the event sent a strong message to the entire nation about Ladakh’s immense potential to emerge as India’s Winter Sports Capital.

The Lt Governor said the clear and inspiring vision of Hon’ble Prime Minister Narendra Modi to develop Ladakh as a national and international winter sports hub is guiding this transformation. He added that focused efforts are underway for infrastructure development, modern training facilities, promotion of sports tourism, and increased participation of local youth, ensuring holistic regional development.

He stated that sports are not limited to winning medals but play a crucial role in character building by promoting discipline, teamwork, leadership, and positive thinking. He emphasized the need to further strengthen Ladakh’s sports culture so that every village, block, and school becomes a center of sporting activity, and sports are seen as a viable career pathway.

Congratulating the winning teams, the Lt Governor said that every player who stepped onto the field is a winner, as they chose hard work, discipline, and courage. He encouraged Ladakh’s youth to believe in their dreams, work with dedication, and face challenges fearlessly to contribute to the progress of Ladakh and the nation.

The Lt Governor concluded by congratulating all winners, wishing all players a bright future, and thanking the organizers for successfully conducting an inspiring and impactful sporting event.

The league, running from January 29 to February 14 in a full round-robin format, featured 75 matches across 11 men’s and 6 women’s teams from the region, including Leh, Nubra, Sham, Kargil, Dras, Zanskar, Changthang, and Kharu, highlighting widespread grassroots participation.

Among those present were Administrative Secretary, Youth Services and Sports, Shri Moses Kunzang; former MP Ladakh Jamyang Tsering Ladakh; SSP Leh, Shree Raam R; President, IHAL, Namgyal Angchuk; Regional Head of Royal Enfield Social Mission Tsewang Dolma; District Youth Services and Sports Officer (DYSSO), Leh, Tsering Tashi and officials from ice hockey associations and Royal Enfield along with senior officials from UT Ladakh.