Sikkim is planning to introduce ice hockey as a winter sport. Preparations are underway to establish a natural ice rink in Gnathang Valley in East Sikkim. The facility is expected to become operational by next winter.
District Collector of Gangtok Tushar G. Nikhare and Sikkim Mountaineering Association (SMA) president Kunzang Gyatso Bhutia, in coordination with the Department of Sports, Government of Sikkim Ice Hockey Association of India (IHAI), aim to develop Gnathang into a winter sports hub, combining youth sports development with winter tourism and positioning Sikkim alongside regions like Ladakh and Himachal Pradesh. In the last week of November 2025, an IHAI team comprising General Secretary Harjinder Singh, an Indian coach and a National Player and Coach from Ladakh Gulam Mustafa visited the high-altitude region of Gnathang Valley for a recce.
The IHAI officials said Gnathang is very feasible with good transport, land, and accommodation. The only challenge is that since it is open, a roof is needed so the ice does not melt fast, and children can play longer. Natural ice had already formed in November, and experts had termed the site “very good”, noting that Sikkim’s winter conditions allow longer playing hours compared to several other Himalayan states, he added. Ladakh-based National player and coach Gulaam Mustafa, who was part of the technical team, said Sikkim’s terrain and climate closely resemble early-stage ice hockey environments in Ladakh. This initiative is expected to open opportunities for youth participation in national-level winter sports while generating seasonal economic activity for local communities.
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