Excelsior Correspondent
LEH, Dec 1: A delegation from the Ice Hockey Federation of India, headed by former Ladakh MP Jamyang Tsering Namgyal, met with the Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh, Brigadier (Dr) BD Mishra (Retd), at the LG’s Secretariat. Also present at the meeting were LG Advisor Dr Pawan Kotwal, Commissioner/Secretary to the LG, Dr L Franklin, and OSD to Secretary, YSS, Vikram Singh Malik.
During the discussion, Namgyal, who is also the president of the Ice Hockey Federation of India, brought to the LG’s attention the malpractices of the Ice Hockey Association of India (IHAI) and the challenges faced by young ice hockey players from Ladakh in securing positions under the sports quota, stemming from the IHAI’s lack of recognition by the Sports Ministry. He informed the LG about the Federation’s ongoing efforts to affiliate with as many States from the Himalayan region as possible to gain recognition from the Sports Ministry.
Namgyal urged Brig Mishra to refrain from funding or supporting any ice hockey events organized by IHAI in Ladakh and proposed that the Ice Hockey Federation of India coordinate national-level competitions for the benefit of Ladakhi youth.
Furthermore, he requested the LG to recognize Bhoti language as the official State language of Ladakh. In response, the LG expressed that enhancing the future of Ladakhi youth involved in ice hockey is a top priority, and assured that the UT Administration would not support any sports organization that compromises their future and career. He also mentioned that steps are being taken to officially recognize the State languages of Ladakh, including Urdu and Bhoti.
