Five from Sikkim to attend ice hockey training at Dehradun

GANGTOK,: Gangtok DC Tushar Nikhare has officially approved and signed the proposal for sending Sikkimese youth for ice hockey training at Dehradun under the Ice Hockey Association of India. This marks a historic and important step towards the development of winter sports in Sikkim, informs a press release on Thursday.

A total of five participants from Sikkim, including three boys and two girls, have been selected for a one-month intensive training program starting from June 1 at Dehradun. After successful completion of the training, these participants will return to Sikkim and help train other interested boys and girls during the winter season.

“This is the first time that young athletes from Sikkim are being officially trained in ice hockey, a sport which is rapidly gaining popularity in India. At present, Ladakh is one of the leading regions promoting ice hockey due to its suitable climatic conditions. Sikkim also has similar weather and temperature conditions, giving the state strong potential to develop this winter sport successfully,” said Kunzang Gyatso Bhutia, Coordinator-cum-Nodal Officer, Adventure Cell of Sports & Youth Affairs department.

Bhutia informed that Gnathang in East Sikkim has been identified as one of the most suitable locations for Ice Hockey activities because of its cold climate, snowfall conditions, and easy accessibility from Gangtok. During the winter months, when schools remain closed, local youth can actively participate in ice hockey training and competitions, creating positive engagement in sports and outdoor activities.

The initiative has been undertaken with the valuable guidance and support of the District Collector, Gangtok district, whose encouragement and vision have made it possible to send Sikkimese boys and girls for this specialized training program, said Bhutia.

He shared that in future, ice hockey has the potential to become one of the major winter sports in Sikkim. The sport can also attract tourists and adventure lovers from different parts of India during the winter season, thereby promoting adventure tourism, winter sports culture, and economic opportunities for local communities.

“Ice hockey is already included in the Winter Olympic Games, and this provides a very good opportunity for Sikkimese boys, girls, and youth to participate and prepare for future Winter Olympic events. With proper training and support, Sikkim has strong potential to produce talented ice hockey players at the national and international levels,” said Bhutia.