Royal Enfield Kicks Off its Second Season of Ice Hockey in the Himalayas

(L to R) – Darryl Robert Easson (Internationally Accredited Coach, IIHF); Dr. Noor Jahan (General Secretary, Ladakh Women’s Ice Hockey Foundation; Vigyat Singh (Director, Operations, Eicher Group Foundation); Bidisha Dey (Executive Director, Eicher Group Foundation); Tsewang Dolma (Regional Lead, Ladakh, Eicher Group Foundation); PT Kunzang (Vice President, Ice Hockey Association of Ladakh) and Shiva Keshavan (Winter Olympian and Member, Athletes Commission, Indian Olympic Association).

• Royal Enfield Ice Hockey League will be played from 2nd to 9th January in Ladakh, comprising 10 men’s and 5 women’s teams
• Royal Enfield will also support the Spiti Cup in Himachal Pradesh from 15th to 19th January
• Royal Enfield will provide training to 1000+ players through the Leagues and grassroots Learn To Play (LTP) programmes

Khel Today Bureau

New Delhi: Royal Enfield, in partnership with the Administration of the Union Territory of Ladakh and the Ice Hockey Association of Ladakh, today unveiled the official trophy and jerseys for the second season of the Royal Enfield Ice Hockey League. The League, set to take place from January 2nd to 9th, 2025, in Ladakh, exemplifies Royal Enfield’s enduring commitment towards building resilience in the Himalayan communities. Royal Enfield will also support the Spiti Cup in Himachal Pradesh.

These initiatives align with Royal Enfield’s Gamechanger – Blueprint for the Development of Ice Hockey in Ladakh, a comprehensive roadmap developed in collaboration with local and international experts, aiming to elevate Indian Ice hockey to the global stage, with the ultimate goal to enable India’s participation in the 2042 Winter Olympics.

Gearing up for the Ice hockey season, Royal Enfield has successfully conducted a training camp for local coaches, from December 8th to 12th with Darryl Easson, a coach instructor certified by International Ice Hockey Federation. The training saw 32 coaches from Ladakh and Himachal Pradesh come together to understand and practice finer nuances of the sport. This will enable them to provide world-class training to the community, preparing them for the League.

The coaches will now return to their respective regions to scout and train players who will form teams for the Royal Enfield Ice Hockey League. In total, 10 men’s and 5 women’s teams will come together in Leh to compete in the 8-day league. The teams will represent diverse regions across Ladakh including Leh, Bodh-Kharbu, Drass, Kargil, Nubra, Sham, Zanskar and Changthang. It will also see prominent Ice hockey players including Noor, Diskit, Chamba, Gyalston, Mustafa etc., showcasing the sport’s competitive spirit.

The League also emphasises Royal Enfield’s commitment to enable Himalayan communities to create a more sustainable and resilient future. This was reflected in the jerseys, crafted from recycled plastic (PET) in partnership with T10 Sports, which symbolise environmental responsibility while honouring Ladakh’s vibrant sporting culture.

The official trophy, which takes inspiration from Ice hockey and the snow leopard, showcasing its intrinsic integration with Ladakh’s culture, was designed by a local designer, Nawang Gyalston. Nawang was shortlisted following an open call issued by Royal Enfield for Ladakhi artisans, in partnership with Ladakh Arts and Media Organisation (LAMO).

“We are very excited today to announce the second season of the Royal Enfield Ice Hockey League. Bigger and better than the inaugural edition, this season will be implementing learnings from the first year, serving as a landmark moment for Indian Ice hockey. Empowering an underdog sport like Ice hockey, which is further threatened due to climate change, forms an important pillar of our Social Mission’s continued commitment to the Himalayan communities. Through the Royal Enfield Ice Hockey League, we aim to champion the development of Ice hockey while fostering growth, talent, and resilience in the region.” said Bidisha Dey, Executive Director, Eicher Group Foundation.

Royal Enfield also confirmed its continued commitment to the Spiti Cup, which will feature 5 men’s and women’s teams each coming together at Kaza from 15th to 19th January. This forms part of Royal Enfield’s commitment to create a competitive environment to grow the sport at a national level, giving it a base beyond Ladakh.

The announcement was part of the inaugural Journeying Across the Himalayas festival (December 5–15, 2024), a celebration of Himalayan culture, sustainability and resilience. Among its highlights was the Evolution of Ice Hockey in Ladakh exhibition, which underscored the sport’s significance to Ladakh’s heritage and Royal Enfield’s vision for its future.

Through these initiatives, Royal Enfield continues to champion sustainable development, cultural preservation, and community empowerment, creating meaningful impact in the Himalayan region while building pathways for global recognition.