Chandigarh's Ice Warriors Overcome Adversity to Claim Historic Medals
The men's and women's ice hockey teams from Chandigarh have scripted a remarkable chapter in the city's sporting history, returning from the Khelo India Winter Games 2026 in Leh with a silver medal and a bronze medal respectively. The teams arrived back in Chandigarh on Thursday to an enthusiastic welcome, celebrating achievements that seemed improbable just a year ago when players were still adjusting to borrowed skates and limited ice time.
A Journey from Concrete to Ice
Coach Gaurav Raheja, an international player himself, reflected on the humble beginnings of the teams. "Last year's Khelo India Games were the first time the Chandigarh men's and women's teams had competed in ice hockey," Raheja revealed. "We could not reach the semi-finals, but it was a huge learning experience. Our players train in inline hockey with wheels. On ice, they had to adjust to blades, braking, and edges."
Raheja emphasized the unique challenges faced by Chandigarh's athletes compared to teams from traditional ice hockey regions. "Teams from Ladakh, Himachal, Jammu and Kashmir, or Uttarakhand grow up on ice. Our players only get ice time during camps or tournaments. That is why this silver and bronze feel special."
Men's Team's Dramatic Campaign
The Chandigarh men's team showcased resilience throughout the tournament. Their campaign began with a convincing 5-2 victory over Jammu and Kashmir, followed by a heavy 1-10 loss to the Indian Army. Undeterred, they bounced back with a 6-1 win over Himachal Pradesh before facing home favorites Ladakh in a tense semi-final.
Trailing by one goal, Chandigarh mounted a stunning comeback, scoring three times with Gurtej Singh Bhatti netting twice and captain Unnatveer Singh adding the decisive goal. Bhatti, who scored an impressive 11 goals in the tournament, credited his family for inspiration. "I started inline hockey in 2012 after watching my sister Gunika Bhatti play," he shared. "The Dehradun camp helped us prepare for ice. Skating is similar, but braking and using edges are different. The win over Ladakh gave us confidence that we can be among India's best."
In the final, Chandigarh fought back from a 2-0 deficit with goals from Bhatti and Birshanjeet Singh, only to fall 2-3 to the Indian Army after a late winner from Padma Norboo. Captain Unnatveer Singh, who began his career as a speed skater, remained optimistic. "Matching the Indian Army in the final gave us huge motivation," he said. "Beating Ladakh in the semi-final made us believe we can aim for the title next year."
Women's Team's Bronze Medal Triumph
The Chandigarh women's team also demonstrated tenacity, opening their campaign with a 3-1 win over Telangana. Despite subsequent losses to Ladakh and in the semi-finals, they rallied in the bronze medal match, defeating Himachal Pradesh 4-3 in sudden death. Captain Gunita Bhatti scored the winning goal, highlighting the team's growth.
"Only three of us had played last year," Gunita noted. "In Chandigarh, we play on concrete or Kota stone. We only get ice in Dehradun or Khelo India. This shows we belong at the national level. An ice rink here will boost us."
Infrastructure Challenges and Future Hopes
Assistant coach Chetanpreet Singh asserted that the medals proved Chandigarh's depth in talent. "Our players are no lesser than any other team. An ice skating rink here will benefit the entire region," he emphasized.
The call for better infrastructure was echoed by Gurpreet Singh Bakshi, president of the Ice Hockey Association of India. "Players benefited from the indoor ice rink in Dehradun. Hill states have rinks, but Chandigarh, Punjab, and Haryana do not. We will raise the matter with the UT Administrator and Punjab Governor Gulab Chand Kataria. It will help players immensely," Bakshi stated.
Despite training on concrete and relying on borrowed ice time in distant camps, Chandigarh's ice warriors have skated into history. Their favorite NHL team, the Edmonton Oilers, would surely be proud of their determination and spirit.
