DEHRADUN: Indian National Ice Skating Coach Mohd Abbass Nordakh of Ladakh and Olympic medal-winning Canadian coach Frédéric Blackburn were felicitated during the State Ice Skating Championship in Dehradun in recognition of their contribution to the development of the sport and their role in mentoring emerging talent.
The honour was conferred by the President of the Karnataka Ice Skating Association during the championship, which brought together athletes, coaches and officials from across the country.
Both coaches are currently associated with the Elite Team India camp and have been actively involved in preparing and guiding athletes for higher levels of competition. The recognition acknowledged their efforts in strengthening the sport’s competitive ecosystem and fostering the next generation of ice skaters at national and international levels.
Mohd Abbass Nordakh, who hails from Ladakh, has emerged as one of the region’s prominent figures in winter sports coaching. His association with the national setup reflects the growing contribution of Ladakh to India’s ice skating landscape, where athletes and coaches from the Union Territory continue to gain recognition on larger platforms.
Frédéric Blackburn, an Olympic medallist and internationally acclaimed coach from Canada, has been contributing his expertise to athlete development through the Elite Team India programme, bringing global experience and technical knowledge to the training environment.
The felicitation ceremony was attended by participants, technical officials and members of the skating fraternity, who applauded the commitment of both coaches towards advancing the sport and nurturing young talent.
The recognition comes at a time when competitive ice skating in India is witnessing increased participation and structured talent development initiatives. Officials associated with the championship noted that contributions from experienced coaches remain vital in raising performance standards and preparing athletes for international competition.
The championship continued with a series of events featuring promising skaters from different states, providing a platform for competition, talent identification and high-performance training.
