India men's national ice hockey team
India's national ice hockey team, competing in Asian tournaments since 2009.
The India men's national ice hockey team is the country's representative side in international competition, overseen by the Ice Hockey Association of India and affiliated with the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF). The team’s appearances have largely been limited to the IIHF Challenge Cup of Asia, a tournament designed for lower-ranked Asian ice hockey nations.
Ice hockey in India has roots stretching back nearly a century, first appearing as a pastime for the British Raj in Shimla. The Shimla Ice Skating Club remains active in promoting the sport. In the early 1970s, the Ladakh Scouts—an Indian Army battalion stationed in high-altitude border areas—took up the game. The frozen streams and lakes of the Changthang Plateau provided ideal conditions, and the sport spread among soldiers. Exhibition matches in Leh during winter helped popularize the game among locals, who began playing on a small irrigation pond in Karzoo. Equipment has never been readily available in Ladakh; locals often rely on contacts outside the region to obtain skates. The Ladakh Scouts are well-supplied through army channels, while the Jammu & Kashmir tourism department once had a full set of gear but was reluctant to lend it. Shimla remains the only place in India where ice sports equipment is easily obtained, thanks in part to two Chinese brothers who began making skates there. Due to shortages, Ladakhis improvised: they nailed skate blades from Shimla onto army boots, used roller skates and ground hockey sticks, and cut rubber heels from army boots into pucks. Goalkeepers wore ground hockey pads but no helmets; other players lacked helmets, knee pads, and elbow pads. Despite frequent injuries, the sport has continued to grow in the region.
India made its international debut in 2009 at the IIHF Challenge Cup of Asia in Abu Dhabi, finishing eighth and last. In its first match, Thailand shut them out 14–0. Further losses followed—10–0 to Mongolia and 10–1 to Malaysia—leaving India at the bottom of their group with a goal difference of minus 33. They then lost 5–0 to Singapore and 8–0 to Macau in the seventh-place game. Two years later, at the 2011 Challenge Cup of Asia, India suffered its heaviest defeat, 2–39 against Kuwait. On 21 March 2012, the team earned its first international win, beating Macau 5–1 at the same tournament.
Quick Facts
- Association
- Ice Hockey Association of India
- General Manager
- Rajat Malhotra
- Coach
- Darrin Harrold
- Captain
- Tsewang Gyaltson
- Most Games
- Stanzin Namgyal (34)
- Top Scorer
- Rigzin Norboo (10)
- Most Points
- Rigzin Norboo (14)
- Iihf Code
- IND
- First Game
- THA 14–0 IND / (Abu Dhabi, UAE; 15 March 2009)
- Largest Win
- IND 5–1 MAC / (Dehradun, India; 21 March 2012) / IND 7–3 MAC / (Kuwait City, Kuwait; 25 April 2017)
- Largest Loss
- KUW 39–2 IND / (Kuwait City, Kuwait; 26 April 2011)
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
The history of ice hockey in India dates back almost 100 years, when it was a favourite pastime for the British Raj in Shimla. The Shimla Ice Skating Club remains active in promoting ice sports. In the early 1970s, the Ladakh Scouts, a battalion of the Indian Army posted in high border regions, took up the game. The high Changthang Plateau's frozen streams and high altitude lakes made the region ideal for ice hockey, and the game spread among the army. Exhibition matches in Leh in winter increased popularity, and locals began playing on a small irrigation pond in Karzoo, Leh.
Ice hockey gear has never been available for purchase in Ladakh. Locals with outside contacts requested friends to bring skates; the Ladakh Scouts are well equipped through the army. The Jammu & Kashmir department of tourism had a full set of equipment but was reluctant to spare any. The only place in India where ice sports equipment is readily available is Shimla, where two Chinese brothers began making skates still used today. Due to lack of accessible equipment, Ladakhis improvised: they obtained ice skating blades from Shimla and nailed them to army ammunition boots, used roller skates and ground hockey sticks, cut thick rubber heels of army boots into rounded pucks, and goalkeepers wore ground hockey pads but lacked helmets. Despite injuries from the lack of protective gear, the game has continued to grow in popularity in the region.
Reader's Guide
The India men's national ice hockey team made its international debut in 2009 at the IIHF Challenge Cup of Asia in Abu Dhabi, finishing eighth and last. In its first game, it was shut out by Thailand 14–0, followed by losses to Mongolia (10–0) and Malaysia (10–1). After two more losses to Singapore (5–0) and Macau (8–0), the team suffered its biggest international defeat in 2011, losing 2–39 to Kuwait. On 21 March 2012, India notched its first international victory, defeating Macau 5–1. India participated in the IIHF Challenge Cup of Asia from 2009 to 2018, except 2010, and played in Division I from 2014 to 2018. In 2017, India finished second of four teams in Division I (seventh overall), with a narrow 3–2 win over Oman, a 5–8 loss to Kuwait, and a 7–3 win over Macau. India participated at the 2025 Winter Asian Games, losing all matches except against Macau. In the 2024–25 season, the team ranked 28th in the AIH ranking of Asian men's national ice hockey teams. India will play in the official 2027 IIHF World Championship Division IV for the first time, and will field three official teams: men, women, and U20 men.
Did You Know?
- India's first international victory was a 5–1 win over Macau on 21 March 2012.
- The team's biggest defeat was 2–39 against Kuwait at the 2011 IIHF Challenge Cup of Asia.
- Ice hockey gear in Ladakh has historically been improvised, including pucks made from cut rubber heels of army boots.
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