The most difficult and challenging football cup tournament in the world is being
organised by the Indo Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) in Ladakh, heaven on earth. The
tournament ‘ITBP High Altitude Football Cup-2017’ started on Saturday. Dr. Sonam Dawa
Lonpo, Chief Executive Councillor, Ladakh Hill Development Council inaugurated it in the
presence of JP Yadav, DIG, ITBP Sector Head Quarter (Ladakh), Deepak Pandey, Sector
Commandant and many senior officers of ITBP at the football ground of 5th battalion
(ITBP), Leh.
Dr. Sonam Dawa Lonpo, Chief Executive Councillor, the Chief Guest thanked ITBP for
organising such an historical event in the region of Ladakh. He encouraged the youth of
Ladakh to enthusiastically participate in such sports event. This football tournament is
one of the world’s highest sports tournament being organised in India. All matches will
be played on football grounds located at the height of about 14500 ft to 11000 ft.
Tournament will be held in High Altitude venues of Ladakh, where for a common person
it is difficult to breath normally.
Forty teams from different regions of Ladakh are participating in this event. An inaugural
match was played between United Ladakh Vs Black Yak. The tournament will continue till
October 30, 2017. The aim of this football cup is to identify talent in High Altitude of
Ladakh and connect them with mainstream teams of India. This unique initiative of ITBP
will bring revolutionary changes in the field of sport in Himalaya especially in Ladakh.
This extraordinary football event is being held for the first time in Ladakh. It is being
funded and encouraged by the Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India to promote
football and health awareness in the border areas.
