The Indian Army Ice Hockey Team secured the first-ever Royal Enfield Challengers’ Cup title after a narrow 6-5 win against Leh Kings at the Nawang Dorjay Stobdan (NDS) Stadium in Leh. The closely contested final, held on August 8, showcased the emerging talent from the Royal Enfield Ice Hockey League and emphasised the strength of the developmental pathway established under the Royal Enfield Social Mission.
Padma Namgail scored the decisive goal in the final moments, completing a pass from Phuntsog Namgail, in front of a packed crowd. Leh Kings opened the scoring through Tsering Angchuk, assisted by Mushtaque Ahmad Giri. The Indian Army Ice Hockey Team equalised quickly with Dorjay Angchuk scoring from Phuntsog Namgail’s pass, followed by Jigmath Kunzang converting Padma Namgail’s assist to take a 2-1 lead by the end of the first period.
In the second period, Rigzin Norboo extended the lead to 3-1 before Leh Kings rallied through two quick goals by Stanzin Angchok, assisted by Stanzin Lotus and Mushtaque Ahmad Giri. Rigzin Norboo scored again, but Leh Kings responded with a goal from Chamba Tsetan, assisted by Tsering Angchuk, to level the match 4-4 going into the final period.
Leh Kings took the lead early in the third period as Stanzin Angchok completed a hat-trick. However, the Indian Army Ice Hockey Team fought back with Jigmath Kunzang equalising and Padma Namgail scoring the winning goal, assisted by Phuntsog Namgail.
Individual honours included Sonam Tsetan of the Indian Army Ice Hockey Team being named Best Goalkeeper of the Tournament, while Leh Kings’ forward Tsering Angchuk received the Best Player of the Tournament award.
Conceived to bridge grassroots development with elite competition, the Royal Enfield Challengers’ Cup provided emerging players from the Royal Enfield Social Mission’s developmental leagues a platform to compete against India’s leading institutional teams. The tournament, organised in collaboration with the Ice Hockey Association of Ladakh and the Ice Hockey Association of Lahaul & Spiti, featured five teams competing in a round-robin stage before the top two advanced to the final.
The participating teams were Leh Kings, Kargil Warriors, Spiti Titans, the Indian Army Ice Hockey Team, and the Central Ice Hockey Team of the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP).
Vigyat Singh, Director at Eicher Group Foundation, stated, “When we started this journey, Ice Hockey in the Himalayas was largely a winter pursuit. Today, the Challengers’ Cup taking place in August at Leh’s all-season artificial ice rink is a testament to how far the ecosystem has come. It is the coaches who train through the year, the referees who uphold the standards of the game, and the young athletes who show up every day to get better.” He added, “Seeing these players go toe to toe with some of the best teams in the country reinforces why continued training and increased competitive exposure are so vital. This tournament is a celebration of that collective effort, and a reminder that building a sustainable sporting ecosystem is a long-term commitment we remain deeply invested in.”
Between August 1 and 4, the three regional teams also participated in on-ice training sessions from midday to 3 pm daily, working with experienced coaches to enhance their skills and tactical awareness.
Tsewang Namgyal, Captain of the Indian Army Ice Hockey Team, commented, “For us, playing in front of large crowds is something we are used to. But for the young players from Ladakh and Spiti, this kind of exposure can be life-changing. Holding the Challengers’ Cup during the peak tourism season meant these emerging athletes could showcase their talent to thousands of spectators, many of whom were watching Ice Hockey for the first time. That kind of visibility matters. It gives these players recognition, it brings attention to their journey, and it shows the world what Indian Ice Hockey is building in the Himalayas. Every team in this tournament, including ours, benefited from the energy that this timing and this stage created.”
Organised as a new platform under the Royal Enfield Social Mission, the Challengers’ Cup offered emerging athletes from the Royal Enfield Ice Hockey League and Spiti Cup the opportunity to challenge the country’s leading institutional teams. The regional teams—Leh Kings, Kargil Warriors, and Spiti Titans—gained valuable exposure to elite competition.
Hosted at Leh’s upgraded all-season artificial ice rink, the six-day tournament attracted more than 15,000 spectators, introducing competitive ice hockey to both domestic and international visitors during the summer season and demonstrating how modern facilities can extend the sport beyond its traditional winter months.
The tournament, alongside regional leagues, reinforces the player development pathway and highlights Royal Enfield’s commitment, in partnership with the Ice Hockey Associations of Ladakh and Lahaul & Spiti, to fostering a sustainable, community-led sports environment across the region.