Gilgit-Baltistan Triumphs Over Chitral in Historic Shandur Ice Sports Challenge
First-Ever Ice Hockey Match on Shandur’s Frozen Lake Sees Gilgit-Baltistan Edge Out Chitral in a Thrilling Finale
Chitral Times Report
CHITRAL UPPER: The Shandur Ice Winter Sports competitions were held at Shandur Top in collaboration with the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Culture and Tourism Authority, Winter Sports Federation, Chitral Scouts, and the District Administration of Upper Chitral.
Zahid Chan Zeb, Advisor to the Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa for Tourism, Culture, Archaeology, and Museums, said it was the first time in history that the final match of Shandur Ice Sports Hockey was made possible on Shandur Top in severe cold weather, and the inclusion of the Gilgit-Baltistan team was also ensured. He congratulated the players and organizers of both teams, stating that history was made on the world’s highest ground. He added that the event would now be held every year, and they would also promote tourism activities in winter so that tourists could visit Shandur Top during the winter.
These remarks were made on the successful organization of the Shandur Ice Hockey final match. According to details, the final match of the Shandur Ice Sports Challenge competitions between the teams of Chitral and Gilgit-Baltistan was played on the frozen lake at Shandur Top yesterday. The Director General of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Culture and Tourism Authority, Tashfeen Haider, was the chief guest on the occasion. Along with him were the Deputy Commissioner of Upper Chitral, Haseeb Khalil, Director Admin and Finance Tourism Authority, Umar Arshad Khan, Vice President Winter Sports Federation, Shahid Nadeem, Shahid Ali Yiftali, Chitral Scouts, and officials from Gilgit-Baltistan, among other dignitaries.
At halftime, the match between the two teams was tied at 2-2, and the match was decided by penalty strokes, in which the Gilgit-Baltistan team scored 2 goals while the Chitral team managed to score 1 goal. At the closing ceremony, the chief guest, DG Tourism Authority Tashfeen Haider, distributed prizes among the players. In the Shandur Ice Sports Challenge competitions, 119 players from Lower and Upper Chitral participated in ice hockey, curling, and speed skating, including 46 female players.
DG Tourism Authority Tashfeen Haider stated that for the first time in history, the historic Shandur Ice Hockey competitions on the frozen lake at Shandur Top were made possible. The participation of such a large number of players from Chitral and the arrival of the Gilgit-Baltistan team at Shandur Top is encouraging. Our effort is to ensure the organization of these competitions at Shandur Top next year as well. Advisor for Tourism and Culture Zahid Chan Zeb’s efforts made the event possible at Shandur Top and Chitral.
