The Royal Enfield Ice Hockey League (REIHL) Season 3 has reached its decisive phase, with the semi-finals at the Nawang Dorjay Stobdan (NDS) Stadium in Leh producing two compelling title match-ups.
On February 13, Shakar Chiktan Queens will take on Sham Eagles in the women’s final, while Humas Warriors will face Purig Warriors in the men’s championship clash on February 14.
Organised in partnership with the UT Administration of Ladakh and the Ice Hockey Association of Ladakh, the semi-final day underscored a recurring theme of this season leadership under pressure. In each of the four contests, captains stepped forward at defining moments to tilt the balance in their side’s favour.
Women’s Semi-Finals: Leadership Under Pressure
Sham Eagles booked their place in the final with a commanding 5–2 victory over Season 2 runners-up Changla Lamos. It was a performance built around the authority of captain Semzes Dolma, who set the tone inside the opening 30 seconds. Dolma struck twice in quick succession, seizing early momentum and forcing Changla onto the back foot.
Changla responded through Thinles Angmo, who reduced the deficit with a well-taken drag shot. A tightly contested second period followed, with both sides showing defensive discipline and limiting clear chances. Early in the third, Padma Yangzes brought Changla level, briefly reviving hopes of another upset.
Watch Indian Live Scores and Play Quiz – Download IndiaSportsHub App
But Sham Eagles answered with conviction. Dolma completed her hat-trick with a composed drag flick, reclaiming control for her side. Padma Desal then added two more goals both clinical drag-shot finishes to seal a 5–2 result and ensure Sham’s return to the final. For a team that had suffered heartbreak in the previous edition, this was a statement of intent.
The second women’s semi-final was a far more cagey affair. Shakar Chiktan Queens edged Kharu Eagles 1–0 in a contest defined by tactical discipline and patience. The opening period remained scoreless, with both sides cautious in possession and compact defensively.
The breakthrough arrived midway through the second period when Queens captain Nissa Khatoon produced a decisive wrist shot to beat the Eagles’ defence. It proved to be the only goal of the game. From that point onward, Shakar Chiktan focused on structure and containment, absorbing sustained pressure from Kharu while protecting their slender lead. The defensive resilience carried them into the final, where they now prepare to meet Sham Eagles in what promises to be a high-intensity showdown.
Men’s Semi-Finals: Composure and Clinical Finishing
The first men’s semi-final saw Humas Warriors from Drass overturn last season’s disappointment with a composed 3–1 win over Changthang Shans. The Shans had drawn first blood through Chamba Tsetan, who converted a sharp drag flick to give his side the early advantage.
Humas, however, responded through their captain Moheb Ur Rehman Mir. His backhanded tap-in restored parity and settled his side. The Warriors gradually asserted control, with Zahid Ali putting them ahead in the second period through a well-executed wrist flick. In the final period, Ghulam Nabi Tak extended the lead, effectively closing out the contest and confirming Humas as the first men’s finalists.
The final semi-final of the day delivered the most emphatic scoreline. Purig Warriors defeated defending champions Kangs Sing 8–2 in a display of clinical finishing and attacking depth.
Kangs opened through Mushtaque Ahmad Giri, but the response was swift. Nawaz Ali equalised with a powerful slap shot before Purig took command. Captain Sarfaraz Hussain led the surge, scoring with a drag shot and later completing a hat-trick. Villayat Ali added a close-range finish in the first period, while Sajjad Hussain and Anwar Hussain contributed further goals as Purig steadily widened the gap.
By the final whistle, Purig had dismantled the defending champions and secured their place in the title clash against Humas Warriors. The 8–2 result reflected not just attacking sharpness but tactical clarity in transition and finishing.
The Stage Is Set
With the league stage and semi-finals complete, REIHL Season 3 now moves into its climactic chapter. The women’s final on February 13 will see Sham Eagles and Shakar Chiktan Queens contest the crown, both sides having demonstrated composure and leadership in pressure situations. The following day, Humas Warriors and Purig Warriors will compete for the men’s championship in what shapes up as a meeting between resilience and attacking firepower.
From Leh and Nubra to Changthang, Sham, Kharu, Drass, Kargil, Shakar Chiktan and Zanskar, this season has once again highlighted the expanding competitive depth of Ladakh’s ice hockey ecosystem. As the finals approach, the focus shifts from qualification to legacy two matches that will define REIHL Season 3.
