Just a few years ago, if someone mentioned women’s ice hockey in Iran, you might have considered it a joke or an unattainable dream. But dreams do come true.
wintersportsnews: Iranian women, despite all the hardships and injustices, have been pursuing ice hockey for about 3 years and now are shining in international competitions. In this article, we take a look at the journey full of ups and downs of Iran women’s national ice hockey team from the beginning to reaching the national team and succeeding in international competitions. It may seem a bit unbelievable, but Iran had an ice rink about 50 years ago. A complex called the “Ice Palace,” managed by “Fereydoun Batmanghelich” and designed and engineered by “Dariush Borbor”, was inaugurated in Tehran, the capital of Iran, in 1967. It provided a place for young people interested in ice skating. The design and construction of this complex were according to the best global standards of the time and paved the way for ice sports activities. 4 years later, a sports hall was built in the “Aryamehr Sports Complex”, now known as “Azadi Sports Complex”, for the Tehran Asian Games in 1974. With the latest technologies of that time, this hall could be transformed into a standard ice skating rink.
After the Islamic Revolution in Iran in 1979, the Ice Palace complex was almost destroyed, and the covered hall of Aryamehr was used for other sports, practically leaving this project forgotten, and almost no use was made of this hall for holding ice skating or ice hockey competitions. After years of despair for ice hockey activities in Iran, there was a ray of light with the establishment of an ice rink.
A special opportunity for ice hockey enthusiasts, especially for girls, was provided to reach their favorite field.
A great event was about to happen. In 2018, the first standard ice rink in Iran with international standards was built. The excitement and enthusiasm of Iranian girls for training in this rink were indescribable.
Almost all ice hockey player in Iran came from the inline hockey. Girls who had also succeeded in inline hockey before entering the ice rink, but now the dream of playing ice hockey has become a reality for them. Their endless excitement was visible when they entered the ice rink. In this moment these girls could pursue their training in the first standard ice hockey rink in Iran. but in 2020, the COVID-19 prevented the activities of these girls, and they had to wait again to achieve their dreams. After going through a stressful period of the pandemic, it was again time to follow the goals of Iranian ice hockey girls.
But this was just the beginning of the story. A path full of difficulties awaited these ice hockey girls. Girls who had no rink for training now had to cover all their sports expenses, from preparation camps and clothing to attending international competitions, without any support from the Skate Federation and later the Ski and Winter Sports Federation of Iran. But all these efforts were in the path of the success of Iranian ice hockey girls.
In October 2021 a turning point was formed for Iranian ice hockey girls. Iran women’s national ice hockey team, supported by a one sports club in Iran, traveled to the United Arab Emirates to experience their first international tournament. Iran women’s national ice hockey team won 3-0 against the hosts of the tournament and an unexpected thing happened in the history of Iranian women’s sports.
These girls had traveled to the UAE with all its difficulties, limitations and no support from the sports federations in Iran, then they had won their first official international match. The amazing part of the story was just the beginning. Finally, the Iran women’s national ice hockey team with two wins and two losses won the first medal in the history of Iranian women’s ice hockey.
Dreams come true, and Iranian ice hockey girls had won medals at the international event. Iranian ice hockey girls were stronger than ever. starting Iran women’s ice hockey League was another milestone in the activity of the sport in Iran. Now many women interested in ice hockey, have had a chance to showcase their abilities. With the efforts, the Iranian media also took a special look at these girls. First, their competitions were shown on online platforms and sometime later on Iran sport television.That’s right! Live broadcast of the Iran women’s ice hockey competitions was an opportunity for all Iranians to meet these brave girls. Everything was going well, but financial problems were still the main concern of these girls.
The high costs of ice hockey were financed either by the athletes themselves or by the sponsors provided by the Iran ice Hockey Association. It was beginning of 2023, and Iranian hockey girls were preparing to compete in Islamic countries tournament.
The Iranian ice hockey girls also were successful with win against the Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates and Oman and only one lose against the Republic of Tatarstan once again in an international tournament to go on the podium and win the medal.
Iranian hockey girls became runners-up in Islamic countries tournament and won another honor.
2023 was going well for Iranian girls. Iran women’s national ice hockey team in its first experience of participating in the Division 2 Asian and Pacific Championships once again showed its worthiness.
Then with a victory against the India, Kyrgyzstan and Kuwait in the preliminary stage and a victory against the United Arab Emirates in the knockout stage, they advanced to the semi-finals. Iranian ice hockey girls defeated Singapore in the semi-finals to reach the final at the Division 2 Asian and Pacific Championships. In the final, the Iranian ice hockey girls lost to the Thailand and deservedly won the second place. It was a fascinating and breathtaking match.
Maybe, if it wasn’t for the 45 degrees’ heat and the atmosphere full of spectators in the final match, Iranian ice hockey girls would have had a chance to win this tournament. Iranian ice hockey girls went to the Division 2 Asian and Pacific Championships with the least facilities and were not supported.
Azam Sanaei, captain and coach of the Iran women’s national ice hockey team, said about this historic event: “I and all the members of the national team are excited and happy for this historic event. Until 3 years ago, we didn’t even have ice hockey in Iran, and playing on ice was our dream. We’re happy and thrilled for this.”
The captain of Iran women’s national ice hockey team expressed his displeasure with the lack of support of sports institutions in Iran such as the winter sports federation, the Ministry of sports, and the National Olympic Committee.
“Accommodation costs were covered by the International Ice Hockey Federation, but other costs such as airline tickets, visa preparation, purchase of clothes and equipment and other things were borne by ourselves and the Iran Ice Hockey Association.” The captain of Iran women’s national ice hockey team said.
Although some of the costs were paid by the Ministry of sports after the Iran women’s national ice hockey team captain’s upset remarks. At the end, these girls were alone as always. Alone but strong!
The captain of Iran women’s national ice hockey team also said about the permission to participate in the world championships: “we also made it to the world championships in 2022, but they did not let us go to these competitions because of Israel presence in Division 4, so we will not go to the world championships this period. As long as they (Israel) do not go to Division 3, we are not able to attend”.
The path to success of the Iran women’s national ice hockey team was brighter than ever. After three valuable successes, it was time for Iranian ice hockey girls to go to Europe and compete to Stronger teams. In November 2023, Iran women’s national ice hockey team participated in the women’s world hockey development Cup and won their first match against Ireland.
After that they lost to Colombia and Argentina, who have years of experience in ice hockey and also have much better opportunities than Iranian girls, with 1-0 and 2-1 results respectively, to face Ireland for the third title. It was time for making history for Iranian ice hockey girls. The Iranian ice hockey girls win against Ireland once again to win medals and podiums and return to Iran by placing third in the competition. Now Iranian ice hockey girls are preparing for the Asian and Pacific Championships as well as the Asian Winter Games these days. Girls who wait for no one and nothing to achieve their goals and are ready to achieve success more than ever.
Now the Iran women’s national ice hockey team are symbols of courage and effort for Iranian girls. A team where most of its players are from poor families. A symbol for Iranian girls that can be achieved and won with limitation. They showed that even with the least facilities and no support, you can go to dreams and achieve.
