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Three Indian crystal hockey teams are acceptable to vie astatine adjacent year's IIHF World Championships crossed men’s, women’s, and U20 boys' categories, the nationalist federation announced connected Friday (May 29, 2026).
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All the 3 nationalist teams are placed successful Division IV of the World Championship pathway, a improvement which marks 1 of the biggest milestones successful the country's crystal hockey journey.
The IIHF contention strategy forms the main planetary title operation of the sport, wherever nations vie done divisions to physique their lasting successful satellite crystal hockey.
For India to participate this operation crossed 3 nationalist teams astatine the aforesaid clip makes the 2027 variation a landmark infinitesimal for Indian crystal hockey.
India person been a afloat subordinate of the International Ice Hockey Federation since 1989.
While the Indian teams person participated successful planetary and determination tournaments successful the past, the World Championships correspond a larger signifier successful presumption of scale, structure, and semipermanent impact.
The improvement comes astatine a clip erstwhile crystal hockey successful India has been gathering beardown momentum done nationalist competitions, authorities participation, subordinate improvement initiatives, coaching support, and accrued visibility for wintertime sports.
The 2025 National Ice Hockey Championship astatine Himadri Ice Rink successful Dehradun, India's lone Olympic-size indoor crystal rink, brought unneurotic teams crossed men's, women's, and younker categories.
The women's programme has besides emerged arsenic an important portion of this maturation story. India's bronze medal astatine the 2025 IIHF Women's Asia Cup successful Al Ain, UAE, delivered 1 of the sport's strongest caller planetary results.
The inclusion of the U20 squad successful the 2027 World Championship pathway adds different important layer, giving young players a defined way into the nationalist programme.
"This is simply a historical infinitesimal for Indian crystal hockey and a arrogant measurement for wintertime sports successful India," said Gurpreet Singh Bakshi, President of Ice Hockey Association of India (IHAI) successful a statement.
"For our men's, women's, and U20 boys teams to beryllium portion of the IIHF World Championships pathway is simply a large accomplishment for the athletics and for the players who volition transportation the Indian emblem connected this platform.
IHAI Secretary General Harjinder Singh added, "This milestone belongs to each player, coach, official, family, and protagonist who has contributed to the sport’s journey.
"The World Championships volition springiness our teams a large level and assistance america physique a stronger aboriginal for crystal hockey successful India. Our absorption present is connected preparation, subordinate improvement and ensuring that India makes the astir of this opportunity."
The 2027 IIHF World Championship volition beryllium hosted by Düsseldorf and Mannheim, Germany from May 14 to 30.
