Kaza, Feb 11(.) Center Zone Men sealed the Senior Men’s title with a commanding 12–2 victory over Lahaul on the final day of the Spiti Cup 2026, powered by Royal Enfield, at the Kaza Ice Hockey Rink on Wednesday. The win ensured Center completed the league stage unbeaten with four victories from four matches, while Sham Zone denied Center Zone a clean sweep across categories by clinching the U-18 Boys title in a close contest. Center Zone Women had already sealed their title yesterday.
Among the Individual honours Tod Zone received the Fair Play Award. Rigzin Angrup of Sham Zone was named ‘Player of the Tournament’ in Senior Men and U-18 Boys categories for his 18 goals, and also finished as U-18 top scorer with 10 goals. Sonam Angmo of Center Zone was adjudged Women’s Player of the Tournament for her overall performance, including eight goals. Chhimed Namdol of Center Zone emerged as Senior Men’s top scorer with 20 goals, while Kunga Yangchen of Sham Zone topped the women’s scoring charts with nine goals. Lahaul’s young goalkeeper Tanzin Norbu was recognised as the Emerging Player of the Tournament.
The Closing Ceremony and Prize Distribution was held in the august presence of Chief Guest Anuradha Rana, MLA, District Lahaul & Spiti, along with Shri Dikshit Rana, SDO (Civil) Kaza, Lahaul and Spiti District and other senior officials from the district administration, representatives of IHALS and Royal Enfield Social Mission, who felicitated the winning teams and individual awardees.
Addressing the gathering, Anuradha Rana, MLA Lahaul & Spiti, said,“The successful completion of the Spiti Cup is a proud moment for the people of Lahaul and Spiti. Each year, we are witnessing greater participation, improved standards of play, and stronger community involvement, which clearly reflects the growing stature of this tournament. Ice Hockey and winter sports have always held a special place in the hearts of our people, and it is encouraging to see that passion translate into structured development and competitive excellence. Beyond sporting achievement, such events also play an important role in promoting winter tourism, attracting visitors to experience the unique sporting culture of our valley. Our focus remains on strengthening infrastructure, expanding facilities, and creating more opportunities for youth across the region. With sustained effort and collaboration, I am confident that Lahaul and Spiti will continue to emerge as a significant hub for winter sports and winter tourism in the country.”
Shikha Simtia, Additional Deputy Commissioner, Kaza, and President of Ice Hockey Association of Lahaul Spiti (IHALS) congratulated the people of Spiti and the Ice Hockey Association for the successful conduct of the third edition of the Spiti Cup in collaboration with Royal Enfield. “The tournament was organised with commendable professionalism and discipline, reflecting the community’s strong commitment to the sport. Such initiatives provide an important platform for young athletes and play a vital role in strengthening winter sports in high-altitude tribal regions. We also acknowledge the valuable support of Royal Enfield, whose partnership has contributed significantly to the smooth execution of the event and the continued development of sports in the region.” she said.
Bidisha Dey, Executive Director of Eicher Group Foundation, added, “As the third season of the Spiti Cup concludes, it stands as a testament to sustained, community-led effort that extends far beyond these five days of competition. From young players training through the winter to the ongoing development of local coaches and officials, the Cup reflects a shared commitment across villages and valleys. With each edition, the Spiti Cup continues to expand—welcoming more clubs and regions, and steadily strengthening both participation and competitive depth. Through our partnership with IHALS and the local administration, we remain committed to building long-term pathways for Ice Hockey and winter sports in the Himalayas, ensuring that it serves as a powerful platform for resilience and community growth.”
Kunga Tandup, General Secretary, IHALS, said, “For us, ice hockey is not just a sport — it is a force that builds character, strengthens spirit, and unites the entire community. The Spiti Cup represents far more than competition; it reflects the identity, passion, and togetherness of our valley. While administrative and government support remains crucial in sustaining and expanding this vision, the continued collaboration with Royal Enfield has significantly strengthened our efforts. Their contribution has gone far beyond equipment and infrastructure – it has brought encouragement, belief, and renewed momentum to our journey of developing ice hockey in the region.”
Match Reports – Final Day
Senior Men’s Category: Center Zone def. Lahaul 12–2
Lahaul struck first through Ramesh, who converted a beautiful drag flick in the fifth minute to take an early lead. Center responded swiftly as Chhimed Namdol equalised in the eighth minute before scoring again two minutes later to make it 2–1. Namdol continued his dominance in the second period, adding two more goals to stretch the lead to 4–1. Despite Center creating numerous chances, Lahaul’s young goalkeeper Tanzin Norbu produced several outstanding saves to keep his side in the contest.
The third period saw Center completely take control as Namdol scored five consecutive goals in a relentless spell to push the scoreline to 9–1. Ramesh pulled one back for Lahaul in the ninth minute, but Namdol netted his tenth of the match soon after. Captain Sonam Kalzang and Prashant Thakur added the final two goals as Center wrapped up a 12–2 victory to secure the title. Pin Zone finished second in the standings, while Lahaul ended their campaign in fifth place.
Women’s Category: Tod Zone def. Pin Zone 7–0
After a slow start in chilly conditions, Tod Zone Women found momentum in the second period. Tanzin Dekyong opened the scoring in the sixth minute before Nawang Lamo struck twice in the 12th minute, assisted by Tanzin Dekyong and Kesang Lamo, to make it 3–0.
In the third period, Tanzin added her second goal early on and Nawang completed her hat-trick a minute later. Kesang Lamo scored Tod’s sixth in the ninth minute before Tanzin Dekyong completed her hat-trick to seal a commanding 7–0 win. Tod finished third in the women’s competition, while Pin concluded their campaign without a win.
U-18 Boys Category: Sham Zone def. Center Zone 3–1
In a closely contested encounter, Sham Zone U-18 Boys defeated Center Zone 3–1 to lift the U-18 title. Player of the tournament Rigzin Angrup gave Sham the lead in the fourth minute. Both teams pressed hard through the next phases, but disciplined defending and strong goalkeeping kept the score unchanged. Sham doubled their advantage in the 11th minute of the third period through Rigzin, who added another two minutes later to complete his hat-trick. Center’s Tanpa Phunchok scored a late consolation goal in the final minute, but Sham held firm to claim the U-18 trophy, with Center finishing runners-up.
Speed Skating Results
The tournament also featured the Speed Skating Championship, which witnessed strong participation across age groups. In the U-16 Girls category, Kesong Lamo of Lossar secured first place, followed by Tanzin Pesto of Guling and Nawang Yangzom of Kaza. The U-18 Girls title was claimed by Sonam Angmo of Kaza, with Tanzin Dekyong of Lossar finishing second and Ipshita Rana of Shimla third. In the Open Women’s category, Sonam Angmo continued her impressive run by securing first place, ahead of Kunga Yangchen of Lolung and Tanzin Dekyong of Lossar.
In the Open Boys category, Tanzin Dorje and Dorje Giachho, both from Guling, finished first and second respectively. Among the U-16 Boys, Kunga Takpa of Kaza clinched the top spot, followed by Prashant Thakur of Kaza and Alawang Jugne of Lalung. In the U-18 Boys category, Nawang Thinlley of Kaza emerged victorious, with Chimmed Dorje of Sagnam and Tanzin Thoysam of Lossar finishing second and third respectively.
The scale of participation this season further reflected the tournament’s growing impact. Over 350 players from Lossar, Hull, Kiato, Kaza, Schichiling, Lalung, Gilling, Sagnam, and Sangla in the Kinnaur Valley took part in the competition, with athletes also travelling from Shimla, Theog, and Lahaul to compete.
In the month preceding the tournament, more than 800 children and youth engaged in structured ice hockey training programmes conducted across villages and zones. These sessions were led by locally based coaches who have undergone formal training programmes, ensuring consistent and high-quality instruction while strengthening grassroots development across the region.
Organised by the Ice Hockey Association of Lahaul Spiti (IHALS) in collaboration with the Spiti Administration and supported by Royal Enfield Social Mission, the Spiti Cup continues to stand as a community-driven tournament rooted in long-term development.
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