Royal Enfield Social Mission has announced the inaugural Challengers’ Cup, marking a new phase in its efforts to strengthen the Ice Hockey ecosystem in the Himalayas by creating additional competitive opportunities for emerging players from Ladakh and Spiti.
Scheduled to be held from August 1 to 6, 2026, at the Nawang Dorjay Stobdan (NDS) Stadium in Leh, the tournament is designed to bring together promising players from across the Ice Hockey ecosystem in Ladakh and Spiti.
The Challengers’ Cup will feature two established institutional teams—the Indian Army Ice Hockey Team and the Central Ice Hockey Team of the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP)—competing against three newly formed regional teams: Leh Kings, Kargil Warriors and Spiti Titans. The regional teams comprise emerging players scouted from the Royal Enfield Ice Hockey League and the Spiti Cup.
The tournament marks the first time that emerging Ice Hockey talent from Ladakh and Spiti will compete together on a single platform.
Among the notable players in the tournament lineup are:
- Leh Kings: Led by Karma Rigyal Stein, captain of Season 3 champions Kangs Sing, alongside former Tournament MVP Mushtaque Ahmad Giri.
- Kargil Warriors: Featuring Waseem Bilal, the top scorer and assistant captain of last season’s champions, along with Sajjad Hussain, captain of runner-up Purig Warriors.
- Spiti Titans: Anchored by Tanzin Dorje from the Pin Zone, who finished as the second-highest scorer in the recent Spiti Cup.
The round-robin tournament will include dedicated training sessions for the civilian teams alongside league fixtures, before culminating in the championship final on August 6, 2026.
Vigyat Singh, Director, Eicher Group Foundation, said, “The Challengers’ Cup is another step in our long-term commitment to strengthening the Ice Hockey ecosystem in the Himalayas. Over the years, we’ve seen the sport grow through the passion and dedication of local players, coaches and communities. This new initiative is an opportunity to build on that momentum by creating more avenues for competitive play and year-round developmental programs. Hosting the tournament in August also demonstrates how the sport is gradually evolving beyond the winter season, and we remain committed to supporting that journey and the local community.”
According to Royal Enfield, competing against established institutional teams such as the Indian Army and ITBP will provide emerging players with valuable competitive exposure while enabling them to continue their development within a structured environment.
The Challengers’ Cup also forms part of Royal Enfield’s broader year-round Ice Hockey programme and highlights the role of the newly inaugurated all-season artificial ice rink in Leh in supporting regular training, competition and community engagement beyond the traditional winter months.
The initiative builds on the continued evolution of Royal Enfield’s Ice Hockey programme in Ladakh. During the previous season, Royal Enfield-supported Ice Hockey events attracted more than 34,000 community members, reflecting growing enthusiasm for the sport across the region.
Over three seasons, the Royal Enfield Ice Hockey League has developed into one of India’s most active community-led sporting platforms, fostering grassroots talent across Leh, Kargil, Nubra, Sham, Shakar Chiktan, Zanskar, Changthang, and Lahaul & Spiti.
Working closely with the Ice Hockey Associations of Ladakh and Lahaul & Spiti, as well as local communities, Royal Enfield Social Mission said it continues to build a sustainable, community-driven sports ecosystem aimed at empowering Himalayan athletes to compete on national and global stages.
