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Kaza, Himachal Pradesh; February 7, 2026: The Spiti Cup Season 3, powered by Royal Enfield, commenced today at the picturesque Kaza Ice Hockey Rink, marking the start of five days of competitive Ice Hockey and Speed Skating in the heart of the Spiti Valley. Organised by the Ice Hockey Association of Lahaul Spiti (IHALS), in collaboration with the Spiti Administration, and supported by Royal Enfield Social Mission, the Spiti Cup remains a community-owned tournament rooted in long-term development.
The third edition of the Spiti Cup brings together teams from five zones – Center, Tod, Sham, Pin, and Lahaul – competing across Senior Men, Women, and U-18 Boy’s categories. With an expanded game calendar and Lahaul making its debut in the Senior Men’s category, the tournament reflects the steady growth of Ice Hockey across Spiti and neighbouring valleys. It enables players across these regions to come together to celebrate Ice hockey, keeping the youth fit during the harsh winter months.
The tournament was formally inaugurated with the Opening Ceremony, held in the presence of Chief Guest Shri Chhatar Singh Thakur, Congress Youth President, Himachal Pradesh and Vice Chairman, State Sports Council, Himachal Pradesh, along with Shri Dikshit Rana, SDO (Civil) Kaza, Lahaul and Spiti District and other senior officials from the district administration, representatives of IHALS, Royal Enfield Social Mission, coaches, volunteers, and players from villages and valleys across the region.
The Opening Ceremony began with the lighting of the ceremonial lamp, led by the Chief Guest along with the Lamas of the five principal gompas of the Spiti Valley - Kaza, Kee, Dankhar, Kungri, and Tabo. This was followed by a traditional Hathi dance performance, a vibrant expression of Himachal’s cultural heritage, which added a strong local identity to the proceedings. Together, the rituals invoked blessings for the smooth conduct of the tournament and the well-being of the players.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, Shri Chhatar Singh Thakur, Congress Youth President, Himachal Pradesh and Vice Chairman, State Sports Council, Himachal Pradesh, said, “The smooth conduct of the Spiti Cup reflects the tireless efforts of the Ice Hockey Association of Lahaul and Spiti, the local administration, and the community members who come together to make this tournament possible each year along with the private players. Organising an event of this scale in such challenging conditions is truly commendable. I strongly believe in supporting initiatives that use sport as a vehicle for youth engagement, fitness, and positive development, and we will continue to extend our support to help Ice Hockey and winter sports grow across the state.”
Bidisha Dey, Executive Director of Eicher Group Foundation said, “The Spiti Cup represents much more than a tournament. It is the outcome of sustained, community-led work across villages, where young players train through the winter, local coaches and officials are empowered, and sport becomes a shared platform for resilience, participation, and growth. Through our partnership with IHALS and the local administration, we remain committed to strengthening long-term pathways for Ice hockey and winter sports in the Himalayas, while ensuring that communities remain at the centre of this journey.”
Addressing the gathering, Shri Dikshit Rana, SDO (Civil) Kaza, Lahaul and Spiti District, said, "The Spiti Cup stands as a strong example of what can be achieved when the administration, local communities, and private organisations come together with a shared purpose. This collaboration has resulted in something truly meaningful for the region. I wish all the players the very best and encourage them to compete with the same spirit, discipline, and sportsmanship, while continuing to grow both individually and collectively through sport.”
Day 1 Report
In the opening game of the day, defending women’s champions Center Zone edged past Tod Zone Women with a hard-fought 2–1 victory. The contest began cautiously, with both sides locked in a goalless first period.
Tod Zone broke the deadlock in the sixth minute of the second period when Nawang Lamo capitalised on a rare opening. Her effort took a crucial deflection off the Center Zone goalkeeper’s leg before finding the back of the net, giving Tod Zone a deserved 1–0 lead.
However, the champions mounted a decisive comeback in the third period. Center Zone equalised in the eighth minute through Sonam Angmo, who finished clinically to restore parity. Just 51 seconds later, the defending champions struck again. Zedhen Wangmo converted a well-worked move, calmly finishing off an assist from captain Angrup Chhomo to put Center Zone ahead and secure a 2–1 win.
In the U-18 Boys category, Sham Zone asserted control early, with captain Rigzin Angrup opening the scoring in the second minute of play to set the tone for the contest. Rigzin doubled Sham Zone’s advantage in the seventh minute of the second period, before Tampa Thuktan added a third goal just three minutes later.
The pressure continued in the third period, with Tashi Rigzin finding the net in the fifth minute to make it 4–0. Captain Rigzin then capped off an outstanding individual performance by scoring two more goals to complete a Texas hat-trick, sealing a convincing 6–0 win for Sham Zone.
The senior men’s category began with Center Zone asserting their dominance in a 4–0 win over Pin Zone. Chhimed Namdol opened the scoring in the first minute and struck again four minutes later to put Center 2–0 ahead early on. Kusang Norbu then produced a precise drag-flick in the 13th minute, extending Center’s lead to 3–0 by the end of the first period.
Chhimed completed his hat-trick in the seventh minute of the second period with a display of excellent stick work. Despite several attempts from Pin Zone to get back into the game, they were unable to convert, as Center Zone remained defensively solid to register a comfortable 4–0 victory.
In the second men’s game of the day, defending champions Sham Zone began their title defence in emphatic fashion with a commanding 7–2 win over Tod Zone. Rahul opened the scoring in the third minute of the first period, before Rigzin Angrup struck twice in quick succession in the 11th and 14th minutes. Thinley Dorje added another in the dying seconds of the first period to give Sham a commanding 4–0 lead.
Tod Zone showed more attacking intent in the second period and pulled one goal back through Praveen. Sham responded in the third period, with Rahul scoring his second in the 10th minute, followed by Rigzin Angrup completing his hat-trick to make it 6–1. Praveen added his second for Tod in the 12th minute, but Sham captain Tanzin Rangdol had the final say, scoring in the last minute to seal a comprehensive 7–2 victory.
The Spiti Cup Season 3 will run until February 11, featuring a packed schedule of four to five games daily, combining Ice Hockey league fixtures and Speed Skating events across age groups. Over the coming days, teams will compete in a league format, with champions decided based on points standings.
Tomorrow (February 8, 2026), on Day 2 of Spiti Cup 2026, we will see Tod Zone in action against Center Zone early in the day, then playing Sham Zone later in the afternoon. In the women’s category, Sham Zone will face Pin Zone, while in the men’s category, Sham Zone will face Center Zone and Pin Zone will face Lahaul.
As the tournament unfolds, the Spiti Cup continues to play a vital role in strengthening the Ice Hockey ecosystem in the Himalayas – bringing together players from remote regions, promoting structured physical activity during the harsh winter months, and using sport as a powerful tool for youth development, fitness, and community engagement.
