With this, as India has won its first-ever medal at the Women’s Ice Hockey Asia Cup, congratulatory messages have been pouring in from across the country.
Bollywood actor Sidharth Malhotra shared a picture of the entire team and wrote, “Congratulations to the Indian Women’s Ice Hockey team on their first-ever Bronze Asia Cup Medal!
The Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) also paid a tribute to the players. “They made us proud! Indian Women’s Ice Hockey Team clinched Bronze at the Asia Cup 2025 in UAE! The 20-member squad included 10 #Himveers from #ITBP, 9 players from Leh, and 1 from HP. 6 international teams competed. #PrideOfIndia #IceHockey," the post read.
Samantha Ruth Prabhu reshared the story of the players, describing it as "Badass."
Amid the cheers and messages following the team’s milestone, read along to know more about their story of resilience and determination.
The journey began in the rugged terrains of Ladakh and Spiti Valley, where temperatures are known for dipping below freezing levels during winter. A group of young women decided to take up ice hockey, breaking societal barriers in a male-dominated sport. With no gear, no funding, no precedent, but just a dream, the women turned the frozen ponds into their battlegrounds.
In the early days, the women players were provided with just the training time on the rink, only after the male players, who even got first preferences for training, matches and even equipment. It was then that they started borrowing men’s gear, which was both oversized and mismatched. Despite having met with remarks like “Go home, be mothers" and “Try dancing instead," the women laid down their own rink, and they didn’t just stay but scored!
They even formed the Ladakh Women’s Ice Hockey Foundation (LWIFH), and over the next 10 years, the players have outgrown and touched new heights. From their international team competing overseas and representing India to the foundation training kids in remote villages, the women have truly pulled out all the stops to whack the patriarchy and stereotypes.
The foundation has started receiving support from the government, with the team now achieving new milestones. Rinchen Dolma, India’s first captain, came back to the rink five months after giving birth amid comments that “they’re old" or “too bold." Dolma’s response? She would bring her daughter to the rink to practice together.
With that said, the historic achievement came nearly a decade after India made its international debut at the IIHF Women’s Challenge Cup of Asia Division I in 2016. The bronze is just a start, a promise to do more for themselves and the next generation.
