SAI agrees to send Indian ice hockey team to Asian Winter Games

Sports Authority of India has agreed to send the Indian men's ice hockey team to the Asian Winter Games. The trials will be held at the Nawang Dorjay Stobdan Stadium in Leh, Ladakh on January 25. 

Earlier this month, the sports ministry cut short the Indian squad, which also included the Indian ice hockey team, for the quadrennial event to 35 athletes from the 76 names.

But now, with the trials scheduled for 6:00 PM today, the SAI paid heed to the appeal of the Indian ice hockey players and decided to send them to the important event in Harbin, Heilongjiang, China.

Leh Ice Hockey Rink, which is already hosting the Khelo India winter games, will be the host for the trials as almost all the Indian top ice hockey players are present at the Games.

Sh. Dorjey Wangchuk (Department of Youth Services and Sports), Sh. Rigzin Namgyal (Ex- Ice Hockey Player) and Sh. Tsering Dorjay (Ex- Ice Hockey Player) has been nominated as an Ice Hockey game expert for the selection trials.

With this landmark decision, the Indian men's ice hockey team will now make their debut at the quadrennial tournament.

This will be the ninth edition of the Asian Winter Games which will take place after a long gap of 8 years from 7 to 14 February 2025 in Harbin, Heilongjiang, China.