Chandigarh's Ice Hockey Journey: From School Grounds to National Podium
Long before medals shimmered under the arena lights at the Khelo India Winter Games, the foundation for Chandigarh's remarkable ascent in ice hockey was being meticulously laid on local school grounds and roller rinks. Here, young athletes pursued speed and skill long before they ever encountered frozen surfaces. The city's recent silver and bronze finishes have now spotlighted two pivotal figures behind this success: coaches Gaurav Raheja and Rohit Randhawa, whose roller-skating expertise became the bedrock for building a competitive ice hockey squad.
The Architect with a Left-Handed Edge: Gaurav Raheja's Path
Gaurav Raheja's sporting journey commenced in 2000 as a Class 7 student. Initially a national-level karate practitioner, he was drawn to skating after observing friends take up the sport. Demonstrating rapid progression, he earned selection for the national championships within a single year, distinguishing himself as the squad's sole left-handed forward. Raheja's competitive career spanned an impressive 19 senior national appearances, culminating in his final tournament in 2024 at age 37, after which he transitioned to masters category competitions.
On the international stage, Raheja represented India with distinction. At the 2007 Asian Roller Skating Championships in Kolkata, he emerged as one of the team's youngest members and secured a bronze medal. He added another bronze at the 2010 Asian Championships in China, alongside an intercontinental bronze in Macau during 2008, where India achieved historic victories against Australia and New Zealand. As a prolific forward, Raheja fondly recalls a defining moment from the 2008 senior nationals in Visakhapatnam, where his team orchestrated a spectacular comeback against Haryana, transforming a 1–4 halftime deficit into an 8–4 triumph by scoring eight goals in the final nine minutes.
Transition to Coaching and Developing Future Champions
Raheja embarked on his coaching career in 2011, initiating his work at Manav Mangal Smart School in Phase 10, Mohali. There, he cultivated a school team that eventually competed at the national level. Over sixteen years, he has mentored approximately 100 students in both speed skating and hockey disciplines. Among his most notable protégés is Unnatveer Singh, current captain of the Chandigarh ice hockey team and a silver medallist at the Khelo India Winter Games. Singh first donned skates at age four under Raheja's tutelage, successfully transitioning from speed skating to inline and ultimately ice hockey. Today, Raheja continues his coaching endeavors at Manav Mangal Smart School with steadfast support from school director Sanjay Sardana.
The Veteran Mentor: Rohit Randhawa's Three-Decade Legacy
Rohit Randhawa brings a wealth of experience spanning three decades within the sport. Born in 1983, he participated in his inaugural under-12 national championship in 1994 and represented India at the 2000 Asian Championships in Chinese Taipei as the team's youngest competitor. Randhawa accumulated multiple national gold medals throughout his career and contributed to India's bronze medal achievement at the 2007 Asian Championships, in addition to securing an intercontinental silver medal.
In 2011, Randhawa joined the Chandigarh sports department as a skating coach in Sector 10, earning the position through merit-based selection. Reflecting on the transition to ice hockey, Randhawa highlighted that last year marked Chandigarh's debut participation in the Khelo India Winter Games, presenting significant logistical hurdles including scarce ice skate availability and challenges acclimating young athletes to frigid conditions. "We commenced with borrowed equipment and weekend training camps in Dehradun. Following our recent success, children as young as five are expressing interest in learning ice skating, with growing enthusiasm visible in under-12 and under-14 age groups," he remarked.
Collaborative Triumph and Future Prospects
Under the combined guidance of Raheja and Randhawa, the Chandigarh men's ice hockey team achieved a monumental milestone during just their second Khelo India Winter Games appearance, advancing to the finals and securing a silver medal after a fiercely contested match against the Army team. For both coaches, this accomplishment symbolizes a system cultivated over many years—evolving from school playgrounds and roller rinks to ice arenas—with an emphasis on sustained player development rather than immediate outcomes. Their methodology demonstrates how foundational skills from roller sports can be effectively translated to ice hockey, creating a sustainable pathway for athletic excellence in Chandigarh.
