Leh, January 26: There is an ice hockey revolution quietly unfolding in India, led by the Ladakh Scouts, a specialized mountain infantry regiment of the Indian Army.
As the country celebrates its 77th Republic Day, it is the perfect moment to highlight their remarkable contributions to the sport.
The first leg of the sixth edition of the 2026 Khelo India Winter Games (KIWG) is underway in Leh, showcasing ice hockey and ice skating. The Army, represented by the Ladakh Scouts, has once again demonstrated its dominance, with the men’s team set to face surprise entrants Chandigarh in the final on Republic Day.
But beyond victories and gold medals—achievements they have earned repeatedly in KIWG—their work off the ice is even more significant. The Ladakh Scouts are committed to popularising ice hockey in India, taking it beyond the snowy mountains of Leh to the plains and coasts.
Though there are no precise records, it is believed the Ladakh Scouts began playing ice hockey in the late 1970s, initially for fun without proper surfaces or equipment. By the late 1980s, they started taking the sport seriously, creating natural ice rinks and importing equipment. Today, ice hockey gear for a single player can cost up to Rs 4 lakh. The regiment was officially raised as a full infantry in 2000, further strengthening its focus on the sport.
Currently, India has only two Olympic-size artificial ice rinks—one in Dehradun and the other in Leh at the indoor Nawang Dorjay Stobdan Stadium. “To make ice hockey a truly popular sport, we need more rinks across the country. For now, it is largely confined to Leh. Spreading the sport nationwide is the only way it can grow,” said Captain Parth Jagtap, part of the Army team at the 2026 KIWG.
Captain Jagtap, who received the Distinguished Award for Outstanding Sports and Academic Achievements last year in Mumbai, praised Khelo India’s role. “Khelo India has significantly increased awareness about ice hockey. Media coverage and their initiatives have shown what needs to be done to make the sport popular in the country,” he said.
Building ice rinks is expensive. A basic rink can cost around Rs 15 crore, while an indoor stadium with a capacity of 5,000 spectators may cost Rs 40–50 crore. Such projects require corporate backing. The Ladakh Scouts have reportedly suggested involving corporate houses, believing that private investment could transform the ice hockey landscape in India, taking it beyond Leh.
The Scouts often take initiatives beyond their military duties. Last year, their last-minute support for the Indian women’s national ice hockey team helped secure India’s first-ever bronze at the IIHF Women’s Asia Cup in the UAE.
These efforts demonstrate that the Ladakh Scouts—nicknamed Snow Leopards or Snow Warriors—are serious about putting India on the global ice hockey map. Their vision is to see the sport flourish nationwide, making India a recognised name in the international ice hockey community. (Agencies)
