As part of preparations for the 38th National Games, Dehradun witnessed the grand unveiling of the event’s logo, anthem, mascot, torch, and jersey on Sunday. The ceremony also marked the long-awaited reopening of South-Eastern Asia’s only ice skating rink after 13 years, offering a much-needed facility for athletes.
Located at Maharana Pratap Sports College, Raipur, the indoor rink was built in 2011 for the South-Eastern Asian Winter Games at a cost of ₹80 crore. Countries including India, Pakistan, Bhutan, Nepal, Maldives, and Sri Lanka participated in the event. However, the rink was shut down due to maintenance issues shortly after.
This year, the Uttarakhand government took charge of the rink’s management, rekindling hope for athletes. Previously, state players had to travel to other regions for practice. With this facility back in operation, they can now train in a world-class environment within their home state. Athletes hailed the reopening as a major step toward strengthening the state’s sports culture.
