Tournament Overview.
The 2025 IIHF Women’s Asia Cup took place from May 31 to June 6, 2025, at the Al Hili Ice Rink in Al‑Ain, United Arab Emirates. Six national teams competed in this tournament.
/*Tournament Kickoff & Format: Six Teams, One Rink, Seven Days of Action*/
In a groundbreaking moment for Indian sports, the national women’s ice hockey team clinched its first-ever international medal, winning bronze at the 2025 IIHF Women’s Asia and Oceania Cup Division II – Group B, held at the Al Hili Ice Rink in Al-Ain, United Arab Emirates, from May 31 to June 6.
The tournament featured six nations: UAE (host), India, Kyrgyzstan, Malaysia, Iran, and Kuwait, battling in a round-robin format followed by medal playoffs.
/*India’s Steady Climb: Round-Robin Battles and Crucial OT Win Over UAE*/
India delivered a historic performance in the tournament, clinching their first-ever international medal in women’s ice hockey. Among their most memorable moments was the 5–4 overtime victory against host nation United Arab Emirates in the semifinals, a thrilling seesaw battle that showcased the team’s grit and resilience.
After initially taking the lead, India found themselves trailing but fought back to level the score by the end of regulation. The game entered sudden-death overtime with both teams locked at 4–4. At 3:26 into 3-on-3 OT play, Stanzin Dolkar emerged as the hero, netting the golden goal that silenced the home crowd and secured India’s spot in the bronze medal match.
/*Against the Odds: The Team Behind the Success*/
The Indian women’s ice hockey team at the 2025 IIHF Asia and Oceania Cup was composed of 20 players, each representing both geographic and cultural diversity and unified by sheer determination.
/*10 players*/ hailed from the/* Indo-Tibetan Border Police*/ (ITBP), trained at high altitudes and accustomed to icy conditions.
/*9 players */were from /*Leh, Ladakh*/, a region where passion for ice hockey thrives despite minimal infrastructure.
/*1 player*/ came from /*Himachal Pradesh*/, adding further regional representation.
The road to the podium was anything but smooth. These players trained with limited access to full-size ice rinks, often practicing in open-air rinks or frozen ponds. Equipment was scarce, funding was minimal, and professional coaching opportunities were few.
/*Rinchen Dolma:*/ A Captain, A Mother, A Fighter: A particularly inspiring figure is Rinchen Dolma, India’s first women’s ice hockey captain. After giving birth, she returned to competitive play just five months postpartum, often bringing her infant daughter to the rink for practice sessions. We didn’t just win a medal—we broke a wall that’s long held women back,” Dolma told The Times of India after the tournament.
/*Historic Milestone & Future Aspirations for Indian Women’s Ice Hockey*/
Following this triumph, officials from Ice Hockey India and the Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports (MYAS) acknowledged the urgent need for support.
“We’re working with the Sports Authority of India to expand ice hockey infrastructure in Ladakh,” said an Ice Hockey India official. “A high-performance center is being planned, along with the recruitment of foreign coaches and Khelo India integration.”
From frozen ponds in Leh to standing proudly on the podium in the UAE, India’s women ice warriors have carved their names into sporting history. This isn’t just a medal- it’s a movement, urging India to dream bolder, train harder, and believe deeper.