J-K: ITBP successfully organises ice hockey tournament

Ladakh (Jammu and Kashmir) [India], Jan 16 (ANI): With an aim to encourage the youths to indulge in sporting activity in the region, a six-day Ice Hockey tournament for Under-20 boys was organized by the 37 Battalion of Indo-Tibetan Border Police from January 11 to January 16 at the 24 Battalion, ITBP, Ice Hockey Rink here at Choglamsar in Leh.

A total of eight teams had participated in the tournament namely Domkhar, Chuchot, KTN Nimoo, Skara, Lalok Sporting Club, Choglamdar Ice Hockey Club, Shakar Chiktan and SECMOL.

In the final match of the tournament, Skara edged past Nymoo by 2-1 to lift the trophy. Manoj Kumar Singh, DIG Srinagar ITBP was the chief guest of the closing ceremony of the tournament.

The aim of this tournament was to encourage youth to indulge in sporting activity and to inculcate team spirit, discipline and overall personality development and also to popularize Ice Hockey which has a limited popularity in India till now.

This was the first-ever U20 talent hunt Ice Hockey Tournament in recent times organised by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) and ITBP sponsored Civic Action Program for the border population in the area.

Five-time Olympic medallist Hayley Wickenheiser from Canada was also present on the occasion to see talents in Ice Hockey through this tournament.

There is also a possibility of taking the selected 10 talented players amongst the participating team to Canada by Ice Hockey Federation of India for an exposure tour. (ANI)

This story has not been edited. It has been published as provided by ANI