Ladakhi women take to ice hockey with flair - India News and Travel Times Provides India-centric and other News and Features

Despite lack of proper equipment, women in Jammu and Kashmir have taken up ice hockey with flair. The women's hockey team was formed in 2001, and played its first match in Ladakh in 2002. Nawang Stoban, the coach of the team said, "We have our rink. In that rink we put water and freeze it throughout the night, so that I can start training the girls from early in the morning." "Sometimes the sponsors provide the equipment for the matches otherwise it becomes expensive to purchase them. This is also a reason for the team's weakness," added Stoban. Siachen Team Captain Stanzin Dolker said, "People here feel surprised and proud to see girls playing hockey. They feel proud to see them playing inside the rink because earlier only men used to play the game." "I feel people cheer more when we girls are playing on the ice ground," added Dolker.