The maiden Baltistan Ice Hockey Championship concluded in Skardu on Wednesday, with Siachen Red winning the championship.
Aim of the event
The two-day championship, held in Skardu on Tuesday and Wednesday, was arranged to spread awareness among masses about the effects of climate change and melting glaciers on human lives. Highlighting importance of ecological balance and conservation of wildlife was also agenda of the event.
Besides its awareness-raising goal, the championship also aimed at promoting winter tourism, Gilgit-Baltistan Tourism Minister Raja Nasir Ali Khan told media.
“Such events play a very important role for the promotion of winter tourism and awareness about climate change,” said Khan. “We have been celebrating winter festivals like ice-hockey, ice climbing, skiing etc. in Hunza and other districts of Gilgit region. Now, the first time we are organizing ice hockey in Skardu.”
4 Teams participated in the event
Four teams from the Baltistan division participated in the competition, each named after a glacier:
- Siachen Red
- Baltoro Blue
- Biafo Yellow
- Chogo Lugma Green
Local children, including girls, also performed ice skating during the event.
The Finalists
Siachen Red won the final match beating Chugo Lugma Green by one goal.
The final match and concluding ceremony was attended by the senior minister of Gilgit Baltistan Raja Zakaria Khan Maqpoon and High Commissioner of Canada to Pakistan Mr. Wendy Gilmour. Several military and civil officials also attended the event.
Despite harsh weather conditions, a large number of local people attended the matches of the championship as well as the concluding ceremony.
The organizers
The championship was held at the Ice Rink, District Park in Halmaranga, Skardu. District administration organized the event. Assistant commissioner, Skardu Waqas Johar told media reporters that it was the first-ever ice hockey championship in Gilgit Baltistan.
“First time in the history of Baltistan, we organized a mega event Baltistan Ice-Hockey Championship 2022,” Waqas Johar, assistant commissioner Skardu told Arab News on Wednesday. “We organized this two-day event to create awareness about climate change.”
He said climate change is indeed a significant challenge for the region
“Climate change is real. It is a global challenge that threatens the very existence of the earth in the coming years. Gilgit-Baltistan, home to the largest glaciers outside the polar regions, is highly vulnerable to the adverse impacts of climate change. The fragile ecosystem of Gilgit-Baltistan needs urgent attention.”