A volleyball cum badminton ground for locals has been turned into an Olympic-sized ice skating rink by the community under the guidance of district ice skating officials in Cheog village, near Shimla.
Nestled among the Deodhar trees, the rink measures 60x30m, making it feasible for the local skaters and children to get the feel of a Winter Olympic Games venue.
The ground was used for various sports like volleyball and badminton, but we thought it could also be used for ice skating during the winter,” Sohan Thakur told The Tribune.
The project was developed under five days, impressing professionals.
“It’s extremely difficult to prepare a natural rink of this size and quality. I’m amazed by what they’ve accomplished,” he said.
A state-level competition was organised in the rink, immediately after its completion. With three to four months of practice on this rink, they could excel at the national level,” he added.
It has also grabbed eyeballs from Telangana. “It’s exciting to see interest from other states,” said Thakur.
It is likely that a national event will be organized at the venue soon.