📍 Venue & Dates
The Himadri Ice Rink at Maharana Pratap Sports College in Dehradun is set to host the prestigious National Ice Skating Championship from June 25 to 28, 2025. This Olympic-size indoor rink (60m × 30m) was recently renovated and reopened in early May, reclaiming its position as India’s only international-standard ice-skating facility
🏅 Himachal Pradesh Team Heads to Doon
On June 23, Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu flagged off a 60-member contingent from Himachal Pradesh to participate in the four-day national championship. The delegation spans seven age categories, highlighting a broad talent base ready to compete on the national stage.
🌟 Government Support & Athlete Welfare
In his address, CM Sukhu emphasized enhanced support for athletes, particularly:
- Financial incentives: Improved prize money for Olympic, Paralympic, and Asian Games medalists.
- Travel allowances: AC 3-tier train fare for journeys under 200 km; economy airfare for longer trips.
- Diet provisions: Additional funding to ensure proper nutrition.
These measures aim to foster sports participation, support healthy youth lifestyles, and deter social issues like drug abuse
🌱 Reborn Rink: A Game-Changer
The refurbished Himadri Ice Rink is a monumental leap for winter sports in India. It reopened on May 5, 2025, following a ₹80 crore renovation, and features an eco-friendly 1 MW solar plant to power the ice surface – a first for any Indian rink.
Originally built for the 2011 South Asian Winter Games, the rink had fallen into disuse due to high operational costs. Its revival now provides athletes a world-class training space locally, eliminating the need for long travel—the closure was a hurdle to India’s winter sports development.
📅 What to Expect
- Dates: June 25–28, 2025
- Age categories: Seven, spanning juniors to seniors
- Events: Short track speed skating, figure skating, and ice hockey demonstration events
- Spectator info: Entry details TBA—previous ice hockey championships allowed free spectator access
🔍 Why It Matters
This championship marks a turning point for winter sports in India:
- Revived infrastructure: After years of dormancy, a premier rink is once again active.
- Youth development: Financial and logistical support ensures India’s rising skating talents get the exposure they deserve.
- Sustainable sports: Solar-powered rinks set the stage for environmentally-conscious sporting facilities.
