The Indian Women's Ice Hockey team has achieved a historic milestone by winning the bronze medal at the 2025 IIHF Asia Cup held in Al Ain, UAE in June. This victory marks India's first-ever medal at the Women's Ice Hockey Asian Cup.
The team secured third place in the tournament with 7 points from 5 games, finishing behind the Philippines and Iran. They won three matches against Malaysia, UAE, and Kyrgyzstan and lost two. The team scored 13 goals and conceded 16 in the tournament.
The journey of the Indian Women's Ice Hockey team is one of resilience and determination. In a sport where few believed Indian women could excel, they have emerged as a force, breaking stereotypes and inspiring a nation. Many team members hail from Ladakh, where ice hockey is the state sport. Team captain Tsewang Chuskit recalls being questioned for playing a "boy's sport". Assistant Coach Ali Amir remembers people saying, "You're a girl, what will you play? You'll get married, you'll go to someone else's house". Despite facing societal norms and a lack of institutional backing, the team stood strong.
Rinchen Dolma's comeback to the rink just five months after giving birth is particularly inspiring. She faced taunts like, "You're a mother now, go home," but she returned to score, declaring, "I'll come with my baby and show you what scoring a goal means".
The team's journey has been captured in "Sound of Courage," a tribute film by Pocket FM. The film showcases their grit, passion, and unbreakable spirit.
The Indian Women's Ice Hockey team made its international debut in March 2016 at the IIHF Women's Challenge Cup of Asia Division I tournament. The team is controlled by the Ice Hockey Association of India and is a member of the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF). The current head coach is Darrin Harrold.
Tsewang Chuskit noted that winning the medal was important because ice hockey is not widely played across India and is mostly limited to North Indian regions. She also mentioned that having a proper coach and infrastructure is crucial for consistent growth.
Sonam Angmo summed up the team's spirit: "We're playing for the country. Even when the support was missing, we stood strong. This medal is for everyone who believed in us".
