The Indian ice hockey team has landed in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, for the IIHF Ice Hockey U18 Asia Cup, which is set to take place from April 27 to May 3. Led by Gurtej Singh Bhatti, with Devansh Sharma and Iftiqar Hussain as alternate captains, the team comprises players primarily from Chandigarh and Ladakh, along with representatives from various other states in India. This tournament holds significant importance for the team as they aim to make their mark on the junior international circuit.
This event comes at a pivotal time for Indian ice hockey, following the Indian women’s team’s bronze win at the IIHF Women’s Asia Cup in Al Ain in 2025. This achievement marked India’s first international medal in the sport, elevating ice hockey’s profile nationally. The men’s team also made waves by securing silver at the 2017 IIHF Challenge Cup of Asia Division I and participating in the 2025 Asian Winter Games in Harbin. The sport has seen a resurgence in India with the reopening of the Himadri Ice Rink and the introduction of the India Ice Hockey League, providing a structured platform for growth.
Harjinder Singh, General Secretary of the Ice Hockey Association of India, expressed enthusiasm for the U18 team’s participation, emphasizing the diverse representation from different states as a testament to the sport’s expanding reach. The IIHF U18 Asia Cup presents a valuable opportunity for these young players to gain exposure and shape the future of ice hockey in India. Delhi-NCR-based real estate developer SS Group has partnered with IHAI for the Asia Cup campaign, underscoring the growing support and potential within Indian ice hockey’s emerging talents.
