Leh (Ladakh), Jan 26 (NationPress) The highly regarded Indian Army team had to draw upon all its experience to narrowly defeat a determined Chandigarh team 3-2, securing their men's ice-hockey gold medal at the Khelo India Winter Games (KIWG 2026) held at the NDS Stadium on Republic Day. The decisive goal for the Army came with only three minutes remaining, providing an exhilarating conclusion to the Ladakh segment of KIWG 2026.

Haryana claimed the overall championship title for the Ladakh phase of KIWG 2026, thanks to their outstanding performance which included four gold medals from figure and ice-skaters. Ladakh, Maharashtra, and Telangana each captured two gold medals, but rankings were determined by the number of silver medals earned. Ladakh finished with 5 silver medals, followed closely by Maharashtra with 3, and Telangana with 2, rounding out the medal standings.

The Chandigarh men's ice hockey team became the center of attention after they surprised the home team Ladakh with a 3-2 victory in the semifinals on Saturday. For a team that began competing in ice hockey only last year during KIWG 2025, their advancement to the finals was commendable. Against the Army, Chandigarh demonstrated that their victory over Ladakh was no mere coincidence, almost pushing the game into extra time after coming back from a two-goal deficit. Remarkably, Chandigarh had previously lost to the Army 10-1 during the league phase.

The NDS Stadium celebrated Republic Day like never before, with its 5000-seat capacity filled more than an hour before the ice hockey final commenced. The Army struck first in the sixth minute with Padma Namgail's long-range flick. Tsewang Dorjay extended their lead to 2-0 in the 10th minute of the first period.

However, Chandigarh refused to back down. The second period saw no goals, with both teams playing a clean, skillful game devoid of the physicality often seen in such matches.

Chandigarh made a remarkable comeback in the final quarter, scoring twice within three minutes. With just eight minutes left, Gurtej Singh Bhatti broke through the Army's defense, and Birshahaanjit Singh equalized at 2-2 with a clever flick after maneuvering behind the Army goal. The referees took over ten minutes to review the goal before awarding it to Chandigarh.

Stunned by Chandigarh's comeback, the Army elevated their play, bombarding the Chandigarh goal from all angles. The moment the Chandigarh defense faltered, Padma Norboo seized the opportunity, scoring the match-winner with another long-range shot.

“In my eyes, we are the true winners. This experience has been exceptional, and we owe it all to divine grace. This journey has been significant for us. We pledge to train harder and strive for trophies at state and national levels,” stated Chandigarh's head coach, Gaurav Raheja.

Goal scorer Birshahaanjit expressed, “Having played inline hockey for eight years has bolstered my confidence in skating, dribbling, and puck control. I showcased my skills on the rink today. This is only my second year in ice hockey; last year our team finished fifth, and I am optimistic about competing for the gold medal next year.”

Padma Namgail, who opened the scoring for the Army, acknowledged the pressure they faced after Chandigarh equalized late in the game. “Honestly, we did not expect them to perform so well. They played exceptionally, but we were not at our peak today. Such things can happen against less experienced teams. We took no chances against ITBP, but hats off to Chandigarh’s performance,” he remarked to SAI Media.

The Republic Day festivities at NDS Stadium began with the 2000 meters mixed relay heats, showcasing the best speed skaters. Six teams competed, divided into two groups of three, with the top three advancing to the finals.

Three skaters – Nayana Sri Talluri (Telangana), Skarma Tsultim (Ladakh), and Sachin Singh (Haryana) – were vying for their third gold medal of KIWG 2026. However, Telangana and Tamil Nadu faced disqualification in Heat No. 1, while Haryana finished at the bottom in Heat No. 2.

The final featured three teams – Maharashtra, Ladakh, and Karnataka. Maharashtra, boasting a strong lineup, showcased their prowess, with Ishaan Darvekar, Anvayee Deshpande, Sohan Tarkar, and Schaleen Fernandes clinching victory with a time of 3:22.47 seconds. Ladakh, led by the speedy Skarma, settled for silver with a time of 3:29.34 seconds, while Karnataka was pleased to secure bronze.

By the end of the ice-skating competitions, Ladakh’s Skarma Tsultim garnered four medals, including golds in the 1000m long track and relay women's events, a silver in the 500m long track, and another in the mixed relay; while Maharashtra’s Darvekar and Deshpande each finished with multiple medals. Nayana, a hat-trick gold medalist in KIWG 2025, secured two individual golds this time, alongside Haryana’s Sachin Singh, who achieved the same.

“Compared to previous editions, the overall level of ice skating has significantly improved. Skaters displayed better timing, technique, and consistency. In the men's events, athletes like Muthakani Vishnu Vardhan (Telangana) and Sachin Singh (Haryana) excelled with impressive performances. Among women, Nayana and Skarma stood out with consistent and competitive displays,” commented national coach Mohammad Abbas Nordak.

“The next step is to nurture these talented skaters. They require support, exposure, and opportunities for international competition, which will help them gain experience and prepare for higher levels,” he added to SAI Media.

MONDAY’S RESULTS:

Ice-skating: (2000m short track mixed relay)

1. Maharashtra (Ishaan Darvekar, Anvayee Deshpande, Sohan Tarkar, Schaleen Fernandes) 3:22.47 secs

2. Ladakh (Skarma Tsultim, Stanzin Jampal, Tasnia Shameem, Mohammed Saquaf Raza) 3:29.34 secs

3. Karnataka (GV Raghavendra, Srija S Rao, Omkara Yogaraj, Sahasra Nellaturi) 3:57.01 seconds.

Ice-hockey final (men): Army beat Chandigarh 3-2.