05/06/2026
SPORTS & YOUTH AFFAIRS DEPARTMENT
GOVERNMENT OF SIKKIM
Date: 05 June 2026
Sikkim Ice Hockey Team Departs for One-Month Training Camp at Dehradun
The Sports & Youth Affairs Department, Government of Sikkim, is pleased to announce that a team comprising five selected Ice Hockey participants (three boys and two girls) along with one Team Coordinator departed today, 05 June 2026, for a one-month Ice Hockey Training Camp at Dehradun, Uttarakhand.
The training programme is being conducted under the Vibrant Villages Programme (VVP) and aims to provide specialized training, technical skills, and competitive exposure to young athletes from Sikkim in the winter sport of Ice Hockey.
Ice Hockey is an internationally recognized winter sport and is featured in the Winter Olympic Games, Asian Winter Championships, and various international youth sporting events. The Government of India has also included and promoted Ice Hockey under the Khelo India initiative to encourage the growth of winter sports across the country.
This marks a historic achievement for Sikkim, as it is the first time that the State has officially participated in an Ice Hockey training programme of this nature. Upon completion of the training, the participants will return to Sikkim and share their knowledge and skills with local youth, thereby contributing to the development and promotion of Ice Hockey and other winter sports in the State.
The team expressed its sincere gratitude and appreciation to Shri Rinzing Wangyal Chopel, Chairperson, State Sports Development Board, Sikkim, and Mrs. Yangchen D. Tamang, SCS, Secretary, Sports & Youth Affairs Department, Government of Sikkim, for their constant encouragement, support, and guidance in making this opportunity possible for the young athletes of Sikkim.
The Sports & Youth Affairs Department extends its best wishes to the participants and wishes them a safe journey, successful training, and a rewarding experience. It is hoped that this initiative will inspire more young people from Sikkim to participate in winter sports and represent the State and the Nation at higher levels in the future.
Team Coordinator:
Kunzang Gyatso Bhutia (Everester)
Adventure Cell
Sports & Youth Affairs Department
Government of Sikkim
On behalf of the Sports & Youth Affairs Department, we wish the team great success during their one-month training camp at Dehradun. May they gain valuable experience, develop their skills, and return to Sikkim as pioneers of Ice Hockey, inspiring future generations of youth in the State.