Friends Pashkum Red clinched the 16th CEC Ice Hockey Cup 2024-25, defeating Drass Warriors 4-2 in an exciting final held at the Biamathang Ice Hockey Rink, Kargil.

The concluding ceremony was presided over by the Chairman and Chief Executive Councillor (CEC), LAHDC Kargil, Dr. Mohd Jaffer Akhoon.

The event was attended by Executive Councillor for Tourism, Kacho Mohd Feroz; Joint Director, Sports, UT Ladakh, Tahir Zabdavi; Councillors Adv. Khadim Hussain (Baroo-Minjee), Manzoor ul Hussain (Yourbaltak), Abdul Hadi (Panikhar), Abdul Samad (Ranbirpora), and Altaf Hussain (Chuliskambo); DYSSO Kargil, Abid Hussain; other district officials, and thousands of enthusiastic spectators.

Dr. Akhoon commended the District Youth Services and Sports (DYSS) Department for successfully organizing the tournament. He congratulated both finalist teams for their exceptional performances and emphasized the potential of ice hockey to elevate Kargil's presence on national and international platforms.

“The Hill Council is dedicated to promoting winter sports, especially ice hockey. We are making every effort to improve infrastructure and create opportunities for our athletes,” he stated.

Dr. Akhoon expressed optimism about the future of winter sports, noting that the completion of the Zojila Tunnel would significantly boost accessibility and development. He also acknowledged the contributions of the Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh and the UT Administration in enhancing sports infrastructure across the region.

This year’s tournament featured 32 men’s teams and 6 women’s teams. The event concluded with the distribution of medals and trophies to the winners and runners-up.