Over the past two years, Iran’s women’s ice hockey team has emerged as a rising force in the sport. Last year, the Iranian national women’s team claimed the title at the 2024 IIHF Ice Hockey Women’s Asia and Oceania Cup with a flawless performance. The team secured four consecutive wins without conceding a single goal, defeating opponents including the Philippines, the United Arab Emirates, Kyrgyzstan, and India.

This year, however, Iran is taking a different approach. In the 2025 IIHF Women’s Asia Cup, set to be held from May 31 to June 6 in Al Ain, UAE, Iran will send its U18 team instead of the senior squad. None of the players from last year’s championship team are part of this lineup, making it a true representation of the next generation of Iranian women’s hockey.

This decision is part of Iran’s broader strategy for sustainable development in ice hockey. After the successful organization of a national youth league, Iran’s U18 team will also make history this year by participating for the first time in the IIHF U18 Women’s World Championship—a major step toward establishing a lasting international presence with a future-oriented mindset.

The 2025 Women’s Asia Cup will feature teams from the UAE, Iran, the Philippines, India, Kyrgyzstan, and Malaysia.