ITBP emerge ice hockey champs

Tribune News Service

Leh, February 6

The Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) lifted the 10th CEC Ice Hockey Championship-2017 Cup by defeating the Ladakh Scout Regiment Centre (LSRC) Red by one goal at Leh.

Braving the bone-chilling weather conditions, people turned out in large numbers to witness the final match of the ongoing CEC Ice Hockey Championship played at the Karzoo rink in Leh town on Sunday.

During the 60-minute encounter, neither the ITBP nor LSRC (Red) scored any goal. Both the teams failed to score in the extra time too. However, the ITBP won the match by one goal in the sudden death chance.

In all, 12 teams both from Leh and Kargil districts have competed for the CEC Ice Hockey Championship-2017, organised by the Sports and Youth Services in collaboration with the Ladakh Winter Sport of Leh. The championship began on January 24. While addressing the gathering, chief guest Sonam Dawa Lonpo, Chief Executive Councilor of Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC), Leh, praised the team for their good performance even under the sub-zero temperature.

It is pertinent to mention here that due to lack of standard ice hockey rink in Ladakh, ice hockey is played on natural ice in open, where the temperature remained below sub-zero level ranging from -5°C to -10°C.

Meanwhile, for the first time in the history of ice hockey, the band of the Ladakh Scout Regiment performed in the ice skating rink and enthralled the audience.