Purig Warriors, Changthang Shans clinch semifinals as Choster stars in thriller

Leh, Ladakh: Purig Warriors and Changthang Shans sealed their semifinal spots on Day 13 of the Royal Enfield Ice Hockey League Season 3 at the Nawang Dorjay Stobdan (NDS) Stadium in Leh. The tournament is being organised in partnership with the UT Administration of Ladakh and the Ice Hockey Association of Ladakh. The day’s action also saw clean-sheet victories for Kangs Sing and Purig Warriors, a dramatic last-gasp win for Kharu Falcons, and Changthang Shans signing off their league campaign with a win.

Kharu Falcons set the tone with a thrilling 6–5 victory over Zanskar Chadar Tamers, inspired by a stunning five-goal performance from Jigmat Choster. Padma Tundup gave the Tamers a late first-period lead with a tap-in, before Rinchen Wangyal doubled the advantage with another close-range finish in the second period. Choster pulled Kharu back into contention with a powerful slapshot, keeping the Falcons alive.

The third period exploded into life as Rigzin Punchok equalised inside the opening minute, followed by Choster’s second goal to put Kharu ahead. Tsewang Chosfail struck back to level the scores once more, setting up a frenetic finale. Choster and Nawang Dorjey traded late tap-ins to keep the contest on a knife edge, before Choster completed his five-goal haul with a decisive last-minute strike to clinch a memorable win for the Falcons.

Kangs Sing recorded a 6-0 clean-sheet win over United Nubra, striking early and keeping control throughout. Gonbo Tashi opened the scoring inside the first minute with a tap-in, before Stanzin Phuntsog and Gurmet Namgail added further tap-ins to extend the lead. Mushtaque Ahmad Giri made it four with a late second-period finish. Kangs kept the tempo in the third as Stanzin Samstan converted a tap-in, and Gurmet Namgail completed the scoring with his second, this time with a wrist flick, to seal the result.

Purig Warriors secured a 2-0 win over Sham Wolves in the next game, with the deadlock finally broken in the second period. After sustained pressure at both ends, Anwar Hussain opened the scoring with a tap-in midway through the second. Sham Wolves pressed for an equaliser, but Villayat Ali doubled the lead later in the third with a wrist flick to seal the result. The win confirmed Purig Warriors’ place in the semi-finals, alongside Kangs Sing and Humas Warriors.

Changthang Shans secured their semi-final place with an 8-2 win over Maryul Spawo. Tsewang Gyaltson opened the scoring with a tap-in, before Captain Urgain Samstan added a slap shot and Chamba Tsetan converted a tap-in to extend the lead. Stanzin Jigmet made it four with a wrist shot, and Captain Tsewang Nurboo got Maryul on the board in the second period. Shans came out quickly in the third, with Tsetan scoring a tap-in inside the first 10 seconds. Rigzen Namgyal and Rigzen Chosphel also found the net, while Asif Ali replied for Spawo with a long tap-in. Tashi Sangdup then rounded off the scoring for the Shans with a tap-in after 22 seconds.

Tags : Ice Hockey League, Royal Enfield, Leh, Ladakh, Purig Warriors, Changthang Shans