India’s preparations for the upcoming IIHF U18 Ice Hockey Asia and Oceania Championship will formally begin with the national selection trials for the Under-18 boys’ team, scheduled to be held at the Himadri Ice Rink in Dehradun from March 2 to March 8, 2026.
The selected squad will go on to represent the country at the continental tournament in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, which is slated to take place from April 27 to May 3, 2026.
The trials mark the first critical step in India’s campaign towards participation at the regional championship, which forms part of the International Ice Hockey Federation’s broader developmental framework aimed at expanding competitive ice hockey across emerging Asian and Oceanic nations.
Trials at Himadri Ice Rink to Shape National Squad
The Ice Hockey Association of India (IHAI) has identified the Himadri Ice Rink in Dehradun as the central hub for the national selection process. The facility, located within the Maharana Pratap Sports College campus in Raipur, Uttarakhand, is India’s premier indoor artificial ice surface and adheres to Olympic-size specifications measuring 60 metres by 30 metres.
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The reopening of the rink in June 2025 has significantly enhanced the country’s ability to conduct year-round ice hockey training and talent identification programs. Historically, Indian ice hockey has relied heavily on seasonal outdoor rinks in regions such as Ladakh and Himachal Pradesh, where climatic limitations often restrict structured preparation windows.
By hosting the trials on a fully functional indoor surface, the governing body aims to ensure that athletes are assessed under standardized playing conditions that closely replicate the environment they will encounter during international competition in Bishkek.
The selection process will focus on evaluating players across key technical and tactical parameters including skating proficiency, puck handling, positional awareness and overall discipline in game situations. The trials are expected to feature participants drawn from domestic competitions such as the National Ice Hockey Championship and the Khelo India Winter Games pathway.
The U18 Asia and Oceania Championship in Bishkek is positioned as a developmental stage within the IIHF’s competitive calendar, providing emerging national programs with exposure to structured international competition. The tournament will see participation from countries operating outside the elite World Championship divisions but actively competing within the regional Asian ice hockey ecosystem.
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India currently falls within the fifth tier of the Asian competitive hierarchy, alongside developing programs such as Bahrain, Macau and Qatar. Participation in events like the Asia Cup remains a vital opportunity for improving international standings and strengthening the case for long-term infrastructural and administrative support for the sport within the country.
For the Indian U18 cohort, the championship presents an opportunity to compete against mid-level and developing hockey nations including Thailand, Iran and host nation Kyrgyzstan, thereby bridging the performance gap between grassroots participation and structured elite competition.
Infrastructure and Preparation Remain Central to Growth
The shift towards indoor facilities such as Himadri represents an important evolution in India’s ice hockey training model. While traditional high-altitude outdoor rinks in Ladakh have historically contributed to endurance development, indoor artificial ice enables athletes to refine tactical systems and technical skills within a controlled environment.
This hybrid approach combining physiological conditioning from high-altitude training bases with technical preparation at Olympic-standard indoor venues is expected to underpin India’s youth development strategy as it moves towards sustained international participation.
In recent years, institutional challenges including funding constraints and recognition disputes have impacted the sport’s operational continuity at the national level. Structured selection mechanisms and technically compliant trial processes are therefore seen as essential steps in maintaining competitive integrity and aligning domestic preparation with IIHF regulations.
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With the selection trials now confirmed for early March, the focus will shift towards assembling a technically equipped squad capable of adapting to the demands of international play in Bishkek later this year.
Beyond immediate tournament objectives, the U18 Asia and Oceania Championship also serves as a foundational milestone within India’s longer-term vision of building a sustainable pipeline of winter sport athletes capable of competing at higher competitive tiers in the coming decade.
The success of the upcoming trials in Dehradun will therefore not only determine India’s representation at the 2026 continental event but also offer an early indication of the country’s progress in transitioning from seasonal participation to a more structured presence within the global ice hockey landscape.
