Leh, September 19, 2026: Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh Vinai Kumar Saxena today attended the opening ceremony of the 10th Pencak Silat Federation Cup 2026 in Leh, with around 800 athletes from 18 States and Union Territories participating in the three-day national event.
Teams from CISF, SSB and ITBP are also participating in the championship, with visiting families accompanying several teams, giving an added boost to sports-related tourism and contributing to the local economy.
Addressing the gathering, the Lieutenant Governor said the growing participation in the event reflects the increasing popularity of Pencak Silat in Ladakh and provides an important platform for young athletes to showcase their talent at the national level.
He said the event is aligned with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of developing Ladakh as a powerhouse of sporting talent, adding that more national and international sporting events are in the pipeline for the Union Territory.
Saxena expressed confidence that the New Ladakh Sports Policy and the landmark decision to provide 4 per cent reservation in government jobs for outstanding sportspersons would further strengthen efforts to develop world-class sports infrastructure and nurture a strong sporting culture across Ladakh.
The Lieutenant Governor welcomed athletes, officials and their families to Ladakh and wished all participants success in the championship.
The three-day Federation Cup is expected to provide athletes with valuable competitive exposure while showcasing Ladakh as an emerging destination for national-level sporting events and sports tourism.
