Ice Hockey League, Leh: Maryul Spamo pulls of stunning comeback to retain women’s title

The second edition of Royal Enfield Ice Hockey League saw Maryul Spamo pull off a stunning comeback, beating Changla Lamos 3-2 and defending the women’s title at the Nawang Dorjay Stobdan (NDS) Stadium here on Sunday. 

On a clear yet chilly morning, with hawkers selling hot beverages including tea, coffee, kawwa, noon cha and hot chocolate, and fries outside the venue, the locals flocked to the stadium to watch Ladakh’s most-loved sport.

They had filled the stadiums for the CEC Cup last week and that remained the norm this time around.

And right from face-off, the game became a nervy battle. 

Changla Lamos, the runner-up of the last edition of the Ice Hockey League, started on the offensive, with only one of its defenders stationed in front of the goalie while the remaining team tried to break Spamo’s defence. 

Captain Padma Chorol from Maryul Spamo scored the winning goal at the 2nd edition of Royal Enfield Super League’s Women’s Category
| Photo Credit:
Shashi Shekhar Kashyap

Within four minutes, the breakthrough arrived – Tsewang Chuskit found the net and caused an uproar among Lamos’ fans. Seven minutes later, Disket C Angmo set up Tsewang to double the lead. 

The defending champion was left reeling and its veteran goalie Noor Jahan watched from the bench, restless to come on. Just as the hooter rang for the first period, Mushtaq Ahmed Giri nodded to Noor. 

It was time. From the moment the second period began, nothing went past her. The former India goalkeeper made at least seven saves and maintained her resilience in the third. 

On the other end, centre Padma Chorol started the comeback, attacking against the run of play and striking twice in eight minutes. Parity was restored and the third period would be the difference. 

Animated conversations ensued in both benches and players nodded to their respective coaches as the fans’ nervous exhales became smoke around the rink. 

A neck-to-neck tie followed, with two India internationals, Tsewang and Padma going for the title. 

Finally, Padma had the last laugh, finding the net past a melee to complete her hat-trick and help her take the trophy home, again. 

“(After the first period), the coach told us that there is still two more periods and we have to be calm and we followed his instructions. The opponent tries to intimidate us but we remained and composed and determined to win this tournament,” an emotional Padma told Sportstar after the match. 

The final day of the Ice Hockey League will see the men’s final, also a repeat fixture of last season’s finale, between Changthang Shans and defending champion Kang Sings.