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Ladakh administration and Royal Enfield announce teams for the inaugural Ice Hockey League
Mumbai: The Administration of the Union Territory of Ladakh, Ice Hockey Association of Ladakh and Royal Enfield, the global leader in the mid-size (250cc-750cc) motorcycle segment, revealed the names and logos of 15 teams that will take part in the first-ever Royal Enfield Ice Hockey League in Ladakh from 3 to 13 January 2024. The revelation was done via a spectacular road show with Royal Enfield riders being flagged in by Sonam Chosjor, Additional Deputy Commissioner (ADC), Leh. The riders rode from the NDS Sports complex to the Leh main market that is at the heart of the city. During the event, official jerseys were handed over to the respective captains of the 15 participating teams, of which 10 are men’s and five are women’s. The start of a competitive league specifically for the civilian population of Ladakh will go a long way in scouting and nurturing local talent from rural areas of Ladakh.
Training and selection camps were set up across five of the seven zones of Ladakh, – Changthang, Leh (which also includes camps for Nubra and Zanskar), Sham, Drass and Shakar Chiktan. Players and teams that will participate in the League have been selected from these zonal camps by a committee comprising members from the Department of Youth Services & Sports (DYSS), Ice Hockey Association for Ladakh (IHAL), Ladakh Women Ice Hockey Foundation (LWIHF), zonal heads and local Ladakhi coaches.
The Royal Enfield Ice Hockey League has been initiated to create a competitive environment to grow the sport from grassroot levels, which is also in line with the roadmap laid out in The Game Changer – Blueprint for the Development of Ice Hockey in Ladakh. The Blueprint was launched earlier this month in the presence of Shri Anurag Singh Thakur, Hon’ble Union Minister of Information & Broadcasting and Youth Affairs & Sports, and dignitaries from Ladakh. Commissioned by the Administration of UT Ladakh, the Blueprint was created by Royal Enfield with the collaboration of all stakeholders and has been reviewed by the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF). It looks at a holistic development of the sport and is a step towards realising the ambition of fielding an Indian Ice Hockey contingent at the 2042 Winter Olympics.
Royal Enfield is currently working with all stakeholders to grow winter sports particularly Ice Hockey across the Himalayas. In Ladakh, Royal Enfield has already supported the development of the sport by providing equipment and training with a ‘train the trainer’ programme where 20 coaches were trained by coaches brought in from Germany. More than 500 children have been provided training in ice skating, which is the starting point for anyone aspiring to play ice hockey. Additionally, ice hockey kits have been procured and will be distributed to players who don’t have access to sporting equipment. Royal Enfield is also working with the Ice Hockey Association of India and the Ice Hockey Association of Lahaul to set up training camps and host the Royal Enfield Spiti Cup in Himachal Pradesh this winter.
The teams and their key players who will take part in the first-ever Royal Enfield Ice Hockey League are as follows:
| United Nubra 1. Manager Padma Stanzin 2. President Sherab Paldan 3. Captain Tsewang Stanzin 4. Vice-Captain Tashi Chotak |
Sham Eagles 1. Captain Sonam Angmo 2. Deachen Dolkar Assistant captain 3. Rigzin Dolma Assistant Captain 4. Manager Spalgon |
Sham Wolves 1. Captain Stanzin Chospel 2. Nima Doejey Assistant Captain 3. Tsetan Gurmet Assistant Captain 4. Manager Spalgon |
| Shakar Chiktan Royals 1. Captain Ashiq Hussain 2. Zakir Hussain Assistant Captain 3. Assistance Captain Syed Mehdi 4. Manager Liyaqat Ali |
Shakar Chiktan Queens 1. Captain Khairun Nissa 2. Tsewang Lhaldo Assistant Captain 3. Tashi Angchuk Manager |
Humas Queens 1. CaptainKhalida Banoo 2. Stanzin Nyidon Assistant Captain 3. Mohd Amin Manager |
| Changla Lamo 1. Captain Tsewang Chuskit 2. Diskit C Angmo Assistant Captain 3. Thinles Angmo Assistant Captain 4. Dorjay Namgyal Manager |
Maryul Spamo Leh 1. Captain Padma Chorol 2. Namgyal Wangmo Assistant Captain 3. Tundup Namgyal Manager |
Changthang Shans 1. Chamba Tsetan Captain 2. Lundup Dorjay Assistant Captain 3. Namgail nurboo Assistant Capatin 4. Manager Dorjay Namgail |
| Changla Blaster 1. Captain Padma Namgail 2. Tashi sangdup Assistant Captain 3. Konchok Namgail Assistant captain 4. Manager Jigmet stanzin |
Humas warriors 1. Captain Wasim Bilal 2. Nasiruddin Assistant captain |
Zangskar Chaddar Tamers 1. Captain Nawang Dorjay 2. Stanzin Gyalak Assistant Captain 3. Manager Pasang Lawang 4. Lobzang Wangyal Team Coach |
| Purig warriors 1. Captain Sajad hussain 2. Nawaz Ali Assistant Captain 3. Manager Nissar Hussain |
Maryul Spawo 1. Captain Padma Thinles 2. Coach Tsering Sangay 3. Manager- Jigmet Namgyal |
Kangs Sings Leh 1. Captain Stanzin Angchuk, Kurja 2. Coach Tsewang Gyaltsan 3. Manager- Stanzin Namgail |
NEW DELHI: Hamdard Laboratories gathered a cross-section of India’s achievers in New Delhi on Friday, handing out the Hakeem Abdul Hameed Excellence Awards to figures who have left their mark across healthcare, education, sport, public service and the arts.
The ceremony, attended by minister of state for defence Sanjay Seth and senior officials from the ministry of Ayush, celebrated individuals whose work blends professional success with a sense of public purpose. It was as much a roll call of achievement as it was a reminder that influence is not measured only in profits or podiums, but in people reached and lives improved.
Among the headline awardees was Alakh Pandey, founder and chief executive of PhysicsWallah, recognised for turning affordable digital learning into a mass movement. On the sporting front, Arjuna Awardee and kabaddi player Sakshi Puniya was honoured for her contribution to the game and for pushing women’s participation onto bigger stages.
The cultural spotlight fell on veteran lyricist and poet Santosh Anand, whose songs have echoed across generations of Hindi cinema. At 97, Anand accepted the honour with characteristic humility, reflecting on a life shaped by perseverance and hope.
Healthcare honours spanned both modern and traditional systems. Manoj N. Nesari was recognised for strengthening Ayurveda’s place in national and global health frameworks. Padma shri Mohammed Abdul Waheed was honoured for his research-backed work in Unani medicine, while padma shri Mohsin Wali received recognition for his long-standing contribution to patient-centred care.
Education and social development also featured prominently. Padma shri Zahir Ishaq Kazi was honoured for decades of work in education, while former Meghalaya superintendent of Police T. C. Chacko was recognised for public service. Goonj founder Anshu Gupta received an award for his dignity-centred rural development initiatives, and the Hunar Shakti Foundation was honoured for empowering women and young girls through skill development.
The Lifetime Achievement Award went to former IAS officer Shailaja Chandra for her long career in public healthcare and governance, particularly in the traditional systems under Ayush.
Speaking at the event, Hamdard chairman Abdul Majeed said the awards were a tribute to those who combine excellence with empathy. “These awardees reflect Hakeem Sahib’s belief that healthcare, education and public service must ultimately serve humanity,” he said.
Minister Seth struck a forward-looking note, saying India’s young population gives the country a unique opportunity to become a global destination for learning, health and wellness by 2047.
The ceremony also featured the trailer launch of Unani Ki Kahaani, an upcoming documentary starring actor Jim Sarbh, set to premiere on Discovery on 11 February.
Instituted in memory of Unani scholar and educationist Hakeem Abdul Hameed, the awards have grown into a national platform that celebrates those building a more inclusive and resilient India. For one evening at least, the spotlight was not just on success, but on service with substance.
