New Delhi: From the frozen ponds of Ladakh to the international spotlight in the UAE, the Indian Women’s Ice Hockey Team scripted history by winning their first-ever bronze medal at the 2025 IIHF Women’s Asia Cup. The tournament, held in Al-Ain from May 31 to June 6, featured six nations battling it out, and India emerged third after winning three of their five matches.
The achievement marks a watershed moment for a team that began its journey in one of the most remote and challenging terrains of the country. Hailing from regions like Ladakh and Spiti Valley, where icy winters offer the only opportunity to train on natural rinks, these women defied the odds of geography, gender bias, and limited resources to etch their names in history.
The 20-member squad was largely comprised of women from high-altitude backgrounds—10 from the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), nine players from Leh, and one from Himachal Pradesh. Their performance has garnered widespread appreciation. Actor Sidharth Malhotra shared a congratulatory message with a team photo, while actress Samantha Ruth Prabhu called the team “badass.” The ITBP too saluted its ‘Himveers’ for making the nation proud.
But the path to glory was far from smooth. In the early days, the women players had little to no access to proper gear or funding. Ice hockey was considered a “man’s sport” and the women were often told to quit and “go be mothers” or “take up dancing.” With resilience as their armor, they trained after the men, wore borrowed and ill-fitting equipment, and used frozen ponds as their makeshift rinks.
Refusing to bow down to societal norms, these pioneers established the Ladakh Women’s Ice Hockey Foundation (LWIHF). Over the past decade, the foundation has not only provided professional training to players but has also extended its reach to mentor children in remote villages, creating a sustainable grassroots development pipeline.
A shining example of their grit is Rinchen Dolma, India’s first women’s ice hockey captain, who returned to the rink just five months after giving birth. Faced with jibes about her age and choices, she silenced critics by showing up to practice with her baby in tow—demonstrating that motherhood and athletic ambition can go hand in hand.
India’s first brush with international ice hockey came in 2016, when the team debuted at the IIHF Women’s Challenge Cup of Asia Division I. Nearly a decade later, this bronze medal is not just a symbol of victory—it is a powerful statement of perseverance and progress.
Their success is a turning point for Indian winter sports, especially for women athletes breaking boundaries in lesser-known arenas. With increasing support from the government and growing public recognition, the team’s journey from obscurity to the podium stands as a beacon of hope and inspiration for future generations. The bronze medal is only the beginning of what promises to be a trailblazing legacy.
