Maryul Spamo defend Royal Enfield Ice Hockey League women’s title with stunning comeback victory over Changla Lamos

Winners Maryul Spamo with the trophy. 

• Captain Padma Chorol’s brilliant hat-trick leads Maryul Spamo to back-to-back championship victories
• Kang Sings set to face Changthang Shans in the men’s championship final on Monday

Khel Today Bureau

Leh: In a thrilling women’s final of the Royal Enfield Ice Hockey League Season 2, Maryul Spamo defended their crown with a sensational 3-2 comeback win against Changla Lamos. Led by captain Padma Chorol’s hat-trick, the champions overturned a 0-2 deficit to retain the women’s category title.

The Spamo proudly lifted the winner’s trophy, while the valiant runners-up Changla Lamos were presented with the runner-up trophy. As the league gears up for its grand finale tomorrow, defending men’s champions Kang Sings will face last year’s runners-up Changthang Shans in a highly anticipated final. The Royal Enfield Ice Hockey League Season 2 is being organized in partnership with the UT Administration of Ladakh and Ice Hockey Association of Ladakh at the Nawang Dorjay Stobdan (NDS) Stadium, Leh.

Runners up Changla Lamos team.

An electrifying atmosphere greeted the women’s championship final of the Royal Enfield Ice Hockey League Season 2, as enthusiastic spectators packed the Nawang Dorjay Stobdan Stadium to support their favorite teams, showcasing the sport’s rising popularity and Royal Enfield’s commitment to promoting the winter Olympics sport Ice Hockey across Ladakh.

The grand finale of the Royal Enfield Ice Hockey League Season 2 witnessed a thrilling contest between defending champions Maryul Spamo and Changla Lamos. The match began with both teams displaying fierce determination on the rink. Changla Lamos made an early impact as captain Tsewang Chuskit delivered a stunning wrist shot in the 4^th minute, giving her team a 1-0 lead. Despite numerous attempts by Maryul Spamo to level the score, they struggled to convert chances into goals. In the 11^th minute, Disket C Angmo provided a brilliant assist, allowing Tsewang Chuskit to score her second goal, extending the Lamos’ lead to 2-0 by the end of Period 1. However, the period ended with a minor setback for the Lamos, as Sonam Angmo was benched for two minutes after being penalized for foul play.

Period 2 saw Maryul Spamo make a strong comeback, determined to reduce the deficit. Their captain, Padma Chorol, stepped up in the 27^th minute, scoring a spectacular goal that brought her team back into the game at 2-1. The energy on the rink escalated, with both teams playing aggressively to gain control of the match. In the 35^th minute, Padma struck again, this time delivering a crucial equalizer to complete her double and level the score at 2-2 by the end of Period 2.

As the game entered the final 20 minutes, tension mounted with both sides pushing hard for a decisive goal. The intensity peaked when Deachen Angmo of Changla Lamos was penalized for aggressive play, giving Spamo a brief numerical advantage. With the game heading toward a possible draw, Padma Chorol rose to the occasion once again, striking her third and final goal of the match in the 54^th minute to complete her hat-trick and secure a hard-fought 3-2 victory for Maryul Spamo. The defending champions celebrated an impressive comeback and retained their Royal Enfield Ice Hockey League title, marking yet another glorious chapter in the league’s history.

Speaking after successfully defending the Royal Enfield Ice Hockey League women’s title, Captain Padma Chorol expressed her joy and pride in her team’s performance,  “To lift this trophy is a moment of pride and joy for our team. It’s a testament to our dedication, teamwork, and the opportunities this league and Royal Enfield has provided us. We hope our win inspires more young girls in Ladakh to pick up a stick and dream big, because anything is possible with passion and perseverance. A special thanks to our coach, Mushtaq Ahmed Giri, for his relentless efforts. This victory wouldn’t have been possible without his hard work and guidance.”

The final began with a ceremonial puck drop by the Chief Guest, Vikram Singh Malik, Secretary of Sports, UT Administration of Ladakh. Adding to the excitement, local young girls enthralled the audience with captivating dance performances during the break-time, providing a delightful spectacle for the crowd.