‘Go Home, B Mother’s’ Tants, India’s Women’s Ice Hockey Team won historic bronze in the 2025 Asia Cup. Hockey news
The Indian women’s ice hockey team won their first bronze medal at the 2025 IIHF Women’s Asia Cup held in Al-AN, United Arab Emirates from 31 May to 6 June. The 20-Member Squad, which included 10 players from the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), 9 to 9, and 1 to two matches. The team’s journey began in the mountainous areas of Ladakh and Spit Valley, where women players practiced on frozen ponds during winter. Initially, he faced several challenges, including proper equipment and lack of training facilities. In the initial stages, women players had limited access to training facilities, only after the end of the male players was getting the rink time. They were to use the gear of men borrowed which were oversized and mismatched. “Go home, be mothers” and “Try to dance instead” in some comments these players faced during their journey. Despite these challenges, they remained firm by making their rinks and continued their search for the game.
The Ladakh Women’s Ice Hockey Foundation (LWIFH) was established to support and develop women’s ice hockey in the field. In the last decade, the Foundation has made significant progress in promoting training players and sports. The Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) accepted this achievement and said: “They were proud of us! Indian women’s ice hockey team won bronze in the Asia Cup 2025 in the UAE! The 20-Sixteen squad consisted of 10 #Himveers from #Itbp, 9 players of Leh, and 1 player from HP.” The team’s success story includes notable figures such as India’s first captain Rinchen Dolma, who returned to the game five months after giving birth, brought his daughter to practice sessions despite facing comments about being “old” or “very bold”. Bronze medal is an important milestone for Indian women’s ice hockey, which came to the IIHF Women’s Challenge Cup of the Asia Division IIHF Women’s Challenge Cup in 2016 after the international start.Quiz: Who is that IPL player? The Foundation has now started getting government support, enabling the team to get new milestones. Their work is beyond competition, as they now train children in remote villages, who contribute to the development of sports at the ground level. The victory of the bronze medal has gained extensive recognition across India, with messages congratulating various quarters, accepting the team’s determination and success in breaking the obstacles in this traditionally male-fetus game.
