Samina Khatoon, Kargil's pride, reflects the ice hockey ambition among women in Ladakh

Samina KhatoonLadakh's mother expressed her mild disapproval about practicing a sport that was mainly practiced by boys. Cargil District, which is considered a conservative design for women.

You will turn black and blue, her mother had warned her. But Samina couldn't resist that a few ski boots were empty in her house. The boots were a gift from her uncle for her older brother, whose disinterest in the pair turned out to be that Samina slid into glory in winter sports.

Fifteen -year -old Samina Khatoon did not want to give up this opportunity and from 2020 between school and practice and gradually got the approval of her parents. Her classmates were jealous of her, but they helped to catch up with her missed lesson notes, lectures and assignments.

Samina's hard work threw off his fruit and she reached the women of Ladakh ice hockey team in 2023, with which she is the youngest player of the team at the Khelo India Winter Games 2025 And the first woman from her village – Trespone in the Kargil district.

Before that she played for clubs from Kargil and played in tournaments such as the LG Club/CEC Cup, where she was named player of the match last year. On Monday she scored once in the 4-0 win of Ladakh against arch-rival ITBP, on the way to the final. Kiwg 2025 gold.

The situation of women, especially in certain communities in the Kargil district, has risen considerably in recent years.

Once a conservative society, communities have now opened their doors for opportunities for both the new generation of boys and girls, without any gender prejudices.

Women are now supported and encouraged by their families and society as a whole to follow the professions and passion of their choice.

Abid Ali, district of youth services and sports officer, Kargil says that he has witnessed this positive change in recent years, emphasizing that this progress is a constant process in which more and more girls are going to exercise, especially by men -dominated sports such as ice hockey. Which is considered an incriminating sport.

The proof of this lies in the fact that more than six ice hockey clubs for women in the Kargil district have been formed in recent years, ranging from Kukshow, Chiktan, Bodkharbu, Mulbek, Drass and Kargil, among others.

Ali adds that to promote this participation, players get equipment/equipment at subsidized rates.

In addition, the clubs received free equipment in the context of the special development package from the government last year, says Ali. Under a similar package, ice rinks are also being developed throughout Kargil.

Ladakh Womens Ice Hockey Foundation, founded in 2016, travels to the rural areas of Ladakh and gives coaching to young children.

During their visits, they realized the willingness and eagerness among the girls to play ice hockey and therefore continued their efforts.

We have taken a long way in making a stamp and we take it to ensure that new and competent players are identified for the team, says Noor Jahan, goalkeeper of the Ladakhs ladies team.

Given the success of such efforts, a similar coaching program has also been set up by the sports department in Kargil, which offers basic ice hockey coaching for children under 14 in different zones in Kargil.

Ali announces that of approximately 200 children are almost 40 percent girls.

Chamba Tsetan, founder of Adventure Sports Frontier or Ladakh (ASFL), and part of the Indian ice hockey team for men, says that the game in Ladakh is promoted as a safe game and that girls are therefore encouraged to start the sport.

It is a wonderful game that both the players and the spectators enjoy, says Tsetan, adding that the facilities for the players, especially the female players, are guaranteed to be present.

Safety is the first that parents take care of and since it is there, there is no doubt or border, according to Tsetan.

Despite all the glorified support system for the female players, they are strongly convinced that it is ultimately each other's encouragement and companionship that keeps them going.

There are many discouraging factors, but we have learned to deal with this into the greater interest of the team, says Noor Jahan.

Samina has been appointed assistant captain of the UT Womens team and teammates who share Bulu, the small one, as the team members call her affectionate, a promising player. I still have a lot to learn and have a long way to go, Samina laughs.