India Women’s Ice Hockey Team Turns Taunts into Triumph with 2025 Asia Cup Bronze
In a nation where cricket is on everyone’s minds and cricketing stars are roll-call names, an underdog story from the cold terrains of Ladakh has melted hearts and broken stereotypes. The India Women’s Ice Hockey Team has made history by winning a bronze medal at the 2025 IIHF Women’s Asia Cup in Al-Ain, United Arab Emirates from May 31 – June 6. This was not just a win on the scoreboard but a statement. A statement of resilience, of grit, and of a dream long frozen in the freeze of neglect.
The Historic Moment
It wasn’t easy to reach the IIHF Women’s Asia Cup 2025 in India. It was a long way to go and uphill all the way. Of the final 20 players, 19 came from Ladakh and 1 from Himachal Pradesh. This fishtail of players shows how limited geographies can be in ice hockey in India. However, this team dealt with all odds against teams who were far superior and equipped from the Philippines, Iran, Kyrgyzstan, UAE, and Malaysia. In total, India played 5 matches, won 3, and managed to score a total of 13 goals. Not only did that give them a bronze medal but it also earned them a cheering ovation in the international scene.
Born on Frozen Lakes, Raised in Adversity
Captain Tsewang Chuskit recalls, ” We didn’t have artificial rinks or world-class coaching growing up. Our training ground was nature itself — frozen lakes, freezing winds, and a burning passion.” In Ladakh, ice hockey is officially recognised as the state sport, but there has been inadequate support to improve it or facilities to practice in.
Many players started with borrowed gear. Helmets, skates, sticks– nothing was easy. “When we played our first international tournament in 2016 in Chinese Taipei, we did not know how artificial ice works. We fell, we lost, but we learned,” says veteran and former captain Rinchen Dolma.
From No Ice to Nice Ice
While teams from other nations prepare for the upcoming ice hockey season with year-round access to artificial ice, the Indian team continues to prepare on natural ice only two months a year. And even during that short, two month window, logistical nightmares such as local tournaments and exam schedules provided minimal opportunity for team cohesion and skill training. Until recently, the only full-sized rink in Dehradun was not operational. This year was different, however. The Dehradun Ice Rink opened in early May, giving the ice hockey team almost 20 days to train as a team before heading off to the UAE. Most players had not trained on artificial ice prior to an international tournament, and the difference was evident. ” Having India ice hockey infrastructure finally operational gave us the edge we needed,” says Chuskit.
The Power of a Bronze Medal
To a cricket-obsessed nation, a bronze medal doesn’t mean a lot; but in the world of women’s ice hockey in India, that’s the equivalent of a gold medal. This is India’s first-ever medal in this sport, and it is representative of a movement that is gaining traction.
The Indian team defeated teams from Malaysia, Kyrgyzstan and the UAE. Their loss became India’s gain — and not just in medals. “A lot of discussion around this victory is happening in schools, at sports forums, and with bureaucrats. People are curious — what is this sport, and why are we so good at it?” Dolma laughed.
When Society Said No, They Said Yes
The chilling resistance was not from the weather. It came from the attitudes. Many of the players were twice told during their formative years that “Girls don’t play ice hockey.” “Stick with school. Learn to cook. Get married.” But they had other goals. To ensure that the next generation does not have to face the same resistance, Chuskit and her friends founded the Ladakh Women’s Ice Hockey Foundation (LWIHF).
LWIHF secured donations of gear from all over the world, established training camps in villages, and extended outreach to Kaza in Himachal Pradesh. “Earlier in the 2019–20 season, we had sent 50 skates and 3 coaches to Himachal to get them started on local camps. This is how the game grows, organically and with love,” Chuskit smiles.
A Sport Slowly Gaining Steam
Today, ice hockey in India is more than a winter pastime in the hills. It is being gradually taken up by younger generations in other areas of north India. While there are challenges, things are moving in the right direction. “Girls from Himachal Pradesh have been consistently representing the country for the past three years. That’s progress,” said Dolma.
Social media has also changed things. Reels, mini-docs, and other short forms of athlete story-telling and sharing started to go viral, and ice hockey came to more attention by the Gen Z and millennials. The India Women’s Ice Hockey Team is not just a team now; it is a story of resistance, empowerment and coming together with pride.
More Than Just Medals: The Road Ahead
Despite the historic medal, recognition remains limited. “We didn’t even get an official felicitation in Leh,” says Dolma, visibly disheartened. This is where the need for policy-level change becomes evident.
India needs:
- Year-round ice hockey rinks
- Access to trained coaches
- Sports psychologists and physiotherapists
- Nutrition experts
- Scholarships and stipends for players
- Representation in national sports bodies
Chuskit says, “We’ve done our part. Now it’s time for institutions to step in.”
Not Just a Team, But Trailblazers
The young ladies from Ladakh and Himachal are not only playing a game. They are playing for visibility, dignity, and for every young girl who has envisioned doing something outside the box. The bronze medal is more than a medal. It is a triumph of tenacity over tradition.
India is learning that talent is temperature agnostic. It is irrelevant whether you are playing under a 40-degree sun or minus-10 snow; if there is fire in your belly, you can shine.
The Final Whistle
As the story of the India Women’s Ice Hockey Team spreads across the nation, excitement is starting to build around this chilly sport. Their story of playing on frozen lakes and then having the chance to play in an international rink is similar to India’s journey from restrictions to liberation in sports.
With more visibility, better facilities and more development and support at this level, India has the chance not only to have more medals but to inspire millions. The bronze medal won at the IIHF Women’s Asia Cup 2025 could be the first but certainly will not be the last.
So, here’s to the women who skated their way around the out-dated stereotypes and fought against every notion that was stacked against them — and that cycle home as Champions.
Let us all say this loud and proud — India wins bronze in ice hockey, and this is just the start.
