From the frozen ponds of Ladakh to the international spotlight, the India women’s national ice hockey team has carved a new chapter in sporting history by clinching their first-ever bronze medal at the 2025 IIHF Women’s Asia Cup held in Al-Ain, UAE.
🥉 A Historic Podium Finish
Competing against five other nations from May 31 to June 6, the 20-member Indian squad—comprising players from Leh, Himachal Pradesh, and the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP)—won three out of five matches, securing third place and a place in the hearts of millions.
“They made us proud!” tweeted ITBP, celebrating the team’s resilience and achievement.
❄️ Born in the Mountains, Forged in Grit
The team’s journey began in the icy terrains of Ladakh and Spiti Valley, where young women trained on frozen lakes with borrowed men’s gear, often practicing only after male players vacated the rink. Facing taunts like “Go home, be mothers,” they defied stereotypes and built their own rink, eventually forming the Ladakh Women’s Ice Hockey Foundation (LWIHF).
🌟 Faces Behind the Triumph
- Rinchen Dolma, India’s first captain, returned to the rink just five months after childbirth
- Tsewang Chuskit, the current captain, led with fierce determination
- Noor Jahan, the team’s goalie, balances sport with running an art conservation studio in Leh
🧊 Beyond the Ice
The bronze medal has sparked a surge of interest across India, with aspiring players reaching out from states like Tamil Nadu, Rajasthan, and Haryana—far from the icy north. The team now trains children in remote villages, building a grassroots movement for ice hockey in India.
🏟️ The Road Ahead
With growing support from the government and the reopening of facilities like the Himadri Ice Rink in Dehradun, the team is eyeing all-season training infrastructure in Ladakh to prepare for future international tournaments.
Stay tuned for more updates on India’s winter sports revolution.
