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Ladakh Women Crush Telangana 19-1, Army Men Dominate in KIWG Ice Hockey Opener

The ice hockey competition at the Khelo India Winter Games 2026 began with commanding victories for the defending champions. The Ladakh women's team delivered a stunning 19-1 victory over Telangana, while the Army men's team defeated Himachal Pradesh 5-1. Other strong performances came from ITBP, whose women's and men's teams secured decisive wins over Rajasthan. The Games were officially opened at a ceremony in Leh by Lieutenant Governor Kavinder Gupta.

Key Points: KIWG 2026 Ice Hockey: Ladakh, Army Start with Big Wins

  • Ladakh women win 19-1
  • Army men defend title with 5-1 win
  • ITBP teams dominate opening day
  • Games opened by Lt Governor
  • Leh hosts ice sports until Jan 26
2 min read

KIWG 2026: Army men, Ladakh women start with emphatic wins as ice hockey competition begins

Defending champs Ladakh women win 19-1, Army men triumph 5-1 as Khelo India Winter Games 2026 ice hockey begins in Leh.

"The Ladakh girls... decimated Telangana 19-1 - Match Report"

Leh, Jan 20

Defending champions Ladakh women and Army men made emphatic starts in the Khelo India Winter Games 2026 ice-hockey competition in Leh, Ladakh, on Tuesday. The fancied teams, ITBP, ITBP, and Himachal Pradesh, also finished on the winning side in their respective matches.

The curtains went up on the sixth edition of the KIWG at the Nawang Dorjan Stobdan (NDS) Stadium in Leh on Tuesday. The Ladakh phase of the winter Games, which will host ice sports like skating and hockey, will conclude on January 26. This is the third time that the Union Territory of Ladakh is hosting KIWG. The snow leg of KIWG will be held in Gulmarg, Jammu & Kashmir, later this year.

At a colourful opening ceremony, punctuated by traditional music and dance and an exhibition ice-hockey match between Army and Ladakh men, Khelo India Winter Games 2026 were declared open by the Hon'ble Lt Governor of Ladakh, Shri Kavinder Gupta.

The first leg of the Khelo India Winter Games 2026 will be organised by the Youth Services and Sports department of the Union Territory of Ladakh under the supervision of the Sports Authority of India (SAI). The technical expertise for the conduct of the Games will be provided by the national sports promotional bodies/federations managing ice sports.

Day 1 got off to a rousing start with two women's hockey matches at the Ladakh Scouts Regimental Centre. In a group B contest, ITBP, last year's runners-up, thrashed Rajasthan 6-0, but it was the Ladakh girls who decimated Telangana 19-1 in a group A match. Padma Desal scored five times while Padma Chorol scored three more for the host team.

Men's action started at the NDS Stadium after the opening ceremony. Defending men's champions Army drubbed Himachal Pradesh 5-1 in a group A match. The Army team found the back of the net through five different scorers to show the all-round impact of the squad. ITBP men too sounded their intentions in group B. They scored 16 goals without reply from Rajasthan. Stanzin Mingure (thrice) and Tashi Tundup (twice) were the lead scorers for ITBP.

ICE-HOCKEY RESULTS:

Women:

(Gr B) ITBP beat Rajasthan 6-0; Himachal Pradesh beat Haryana 2-1

(Gr A) Ladakh beat Telangana 19-1

(Men)

(Gr A) Army beat Himachal Pradesh 5-1

(Gr B) ITBP beat Rajasthan 16-0.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

S
Sarah B
As someone who follows winter sports, it's fantastic to see KIWG getting bigger. The infrastructure development in Leh for these games must be a huge boost for local youth. Hope it inspires more kids to take up ice hockey.
A
Arjun K
Army men and ITBP showing their class as expected. These forces personnel are fit for any challenge, on the border or on the ice! But a respectful suggestion - maybe the groups could be more balanced? Scores like 16-0 and 19-1 aren't great for competition.
P
Priya S
Wonderful to see Ladakh hosting again. The opening ceremony with traditional music and dance must have been beautiful. These games do more than just sports - they promote our diverse culture and bring the country together. 👏
V
Vikram M
ITBP men's team 16-0! That's some statement. These are the same bravehearts guarding our frontiers in extreme cold. No surprise they excel at ice hockey too. Salute to their spirit.
K
Kavya N
Heartwarming to see the women's teams in action. From Ladakh to Himachal, our mountain girls are breaking stereotypes. Hope they get more coverage and support. The future is bright! ✨

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