Tsewang Chuskit, 30 year old Captain of Women's Ice Hockey team has worked tirelessly and hails originally from Ladakh. The Indian Women's Ice Hockey team was founded in 2016 and since then Ladakh was never considered a state team. For Tsewang Chuskit and other ice hockey players from Ladakh, it was the year 2019 when they found their identity and could form a separate team.
When Ladkah got the status of a Union Territory it was then that men and women could form their separate and independent ice hockey teams with national and regional recognition. With an altitude of 12,000 feet and the temperature dropping to -4 degree celsius, the women's ice hockey team rose to glory and found their space, and to lead them was the terrific Tsewang Chuskit.
First Ladakh Ice Hockey Team
It was Rinchan Dolma who was the first captain of the Indian Women's Ice Hockey Team in 2017 where the state of the team was not as comparable to other recognised national level sports. They started out on self funding for their equipment and training sessions where they did not get any professional coach to guide them. They were self taught and endured harsh conditions to reach where they are now.
Tsewang Chuskit recalls and has said that she started playing when she was 10 years old, an appropriate age for any child in Ladakh to learn ice hockey since most of Ladakh is covered with ice year round. Noor Jahan, team member and the best goalkeeper, has also mentioned how the team and the women had to brave through some difficult circumstances to reach at an international level and represent their country.
First Wins For Women's Team
The Indian Women's Ice Hockey team recently went to play in IIHF (International Ice Hockey Federation) Women's Asia and Oceania Cup 2024 where they came 4th in place and Iran took the cup home. It was also the first time that women's category was added in the Khelo India Winter Games in 2024. Here the Ladakh's team won a silver medal and the team was headed by Tsewang Chuskit.
It is sad that not many sports recognise women or their lead roles in them. Tsewang Chuskit has publicly garnered less recognition than the Indian Men's Ice Hockey Captain, Tsewang Gyaltson. We need to have more media and public traction towards stories of women and them pushing forward tirelessly to achieve leadership roles and represent our country at various International level tournaments.
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