Days before 2025 Winter Asian Games, final roster still uncertain for Indian men’s ice hockey team
Days before 2025 Winter Asian Games, final roster still uncertain for Indian men’s ice hockey team
The Indian men’s ice hockey team is set to compete at the Winter Asian Games for the first time but there is no clarity about the final roster for the 2025 edition of the tournament.
India is scheduled to play Turkmenistan, Macau and Hong Kong in the preliminary group stages of the Games, which will be played in Harbin, China, between February 3 and 14.
The Sports Ministry, through a letter dated January 24, approved the men’s team’s participation but suggested fresh trials, by the Sports Authority of India, to select a team.
Accordingly, a 23-member squad was shortlisted on the next day (January 25).
However, the 2024 Olympic Charter [Chapter 4 (Part 27.3)] by the International Olympic Association authorises the National Olympic Committee – the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) in this case – to select the final team, something the IOA had already done.
“The selection process was conducted in accordance with the guidelines and standards established by these organisations. The names of the selected team members were entered in the registration system of the Winter Games as per the deadline of 7 December 2024, and no fresh names can be added to the system,” IOA chief Dr PT Usha wrote in a letter to the Centre, seen by Sportstar.
That team, comprising players entirely from Ladakh, completed its last practice session in Leh before reaching Delhi on Wednesday. The players are expecting to leave by Thursday evening but are yet to receive their tickets.
The men’s team (whichever goes) is scheduled to reach Harbin by January 31 but no confirmation about the final team has left some players in limbo.
Meanwhile, the official website of the Harbin Games has the IOA-selected squad enlisted as Team India.
The Ice Hockey Association of India (IHAI), which is affiliated with the International Ice Hockey Federation, refused to comment on the issue.
India has never participated in Ice Hockey at the Winter Asian Games. Neither has it won a medal at the Games across disciplines.
