DEHRADUN: Team Ladakh produced its best-ever performance at the National Ice Skating Championship by securing a record 14 medals at the 21st edition of the competition, held at Himadri Ice Rink in Dehradun from June 25 to 30, reinforcing the Union Territory’s emergence as one of India’s strongest centres for winter sports.
The contingent won two gold, six silver and six bronze medals, eclipsing its previous best tally of 11 medals at the 20th National Ice Skating Championship. The latest achievement also surpassed Ladakh’s highest-ever haul of 13 medals at the Khelo India Winter Games, reflecting the region’s sustained rise in competitive ice skating.
Competing against nearly 450 skaters representing 21 States and Union Territories, the 18-member Ladakh team—comprising 12 girls and six boys—excelled in both Speed Skating and Figure Skating. Of the 14 medals, 12 came in individual events while two were secured in relay competitions. Ladakh claimed silver in both the Mixed Relay and Women’s Relay, with the Mixed Relay team falling short of gold by a razor-thin margin of just 0.002 seconds.
The figure skating team accounted for two gold medals through Stanzin Khando A and Stanzin Khando B, while Stanzin Famo, Tenzin Kunzin, Chossal Angmo and the youngest member of the contingent, Tashi Yangzes, added bronze medals in their respective categories.
In speed skating, Skarma Tsultim emerged as Ladakh’s most decorated athlete after winning five medals, including four silver and one bronze. Tasnia Shameem claimed three medals—two silver and one bronze—while Mehvish Fatima, Shabana, Stanzin Jampal and Tsewang Punchok added silver medals in individual events.
A major highlight of the championship was the performance of Basharat Hussain, who became the first speed skater from Kargil district to win a medal at the National Ice Skating Championship after securing silver as a member of Ladakh’s Mixed Relay team. His achievement is being viewed as a breakthrough for the sport’s expansion in Kargil.
Basharat was identified during a talent scouting programme conducted in Kargil earlier this year by National Speed Skating Coach Mohd Abbass Nordakh before attending the pre-National coaching camp in Leh organised by the Ladakh Ice Skating Association (LISA). With limited financial assistance available, Nordakh personally sponsored the athlete’s accommodation, meals and skating equipment during the month-long training camp to facilitate his participation in the championship.
The Ladakh contingent was led by Nordakh, who serves as President of LISA and Senior National Speed Skating Coach, with support from Figure Skating Coach Natalie Flagsgraf of the United States and Team Manager Dorjay Namgial.
Apart from the medal winners, several Ladakh skaters progressed to the semifinal and final rounds, reflecting the growing depth of talent within the Union Territory’s skating programme.
Congratulating the athletes, coaches, parents and officials, LISA described the 14-medal performance as a defining moment in the growth of ice skating in Ladakh, expressing confidence that the achievement would encourage more young athletes to pursue the sport.
The team will now shift its focus to the National Selection Trials for the Asian Trophy 2026, scheduled to be held in Dehradun from August 17 to 20. The international event is expected to attract more than 100 athletes from over a dozen Asian countries and will be hosted by the Ice Skating Association of India (ISAI) for the second time.
At the previous Asian Trophy, 10 skaters from Ladakh represented India and contributed six of the country’s 32 medals. The Union Territory also delivered a strong performance at the SEA Trophy 2024 in the Philippines, underlining its increasing contribution to India’s success in international ice skating.
Despite the sustained success, the Association highlighted the absence of a dedicated government funding mechanism for speed skating over the past three National Championships, stating that LISA and parents have largely financed athletes’ equipment, travel, training and nutritional requirements.
The record-breaking performance has further strengthened Ladakh’s position among India’s leading ice skating teams while raising expectations of a stronger showing at forthcoming international competitions.
