Onliporno at 11:41, 6 March 2026

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{{Short description|Ice hockey governing body in India}}
{{Use Indian English|date=August 2015}}
{{Infobox International Ice Hockey Federation nation
|IIHFnation = Ice Hockey Association of India
|logo_image = Ice Hockey Association of India logo.png
|Badge_size = 250px
|organization = Ice Hockey Association of India
|code = IND
|joined = April 27, 1989
|president = Gurpreet Singh Bakshi<ref>https://www.iihf.com/en/associations/351/india</ref>
|website =
}}

The '''Ice Hockey Association of India''' (IHAI) is the governing body responsible for overseeing [[ice hockey in India]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.icehockeyindia.com/ihai.html |title=Ice Hockey Association of India |website=www.icehockeyindia.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091118202105/http://www.icehockeyindia.com/ihai.html |archive-date=2009-11-18}} </ref> It became a member of the [[International Ice Hockey Federation]] (IIHF) on April 27, 1989.

==History==
In addition to working with other sport organisations, such as the [[Indian Olympic Association]] and the [[Sports Authority of India]], the IHAI is governing all national sections and tournaments, mainly the [[Indian Ice Hockey Championship]].<ref name="IHAI">{{cite web | title = IHAI: Ice Hockey Association of India | publisher = Ice Hockey Association of India | url = http://icehockeyindia.com/ihai.html | access-date = 2009-06-09 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20091118202105/http://www.icehockeyindia.com/ihai.html | archive-date = 2009-11-18 | url-status = dead }}</ref> In April 2015, the players started a crowdfunding campaign on ''BitGiving'' to take part in an international tournament. The hashtag #SupportIceHockey trended nationwide. In response to the campaign, the team also received its first corporate sponsorship deal with the [[Mahindra Group]]. The group's head [[Anand Mahindra]] tweeted that he had "decided to support these passionate athletes".<ref>{{Cite tweet |number=585396005773840386 |user=anandmahindra |title=I’ve decided to support these passionate athletes. #SupportIceHockey |first=Anand |last=Mahindra |author-link=Anand Mahindra |date=7 April 2015}}</ref>

Many of the members of the Indian national team, coordinated by the IHAI, are recruited from clubs associated with military units and regiments.<ref>{{cite web | title = Teams | publisher = Ice Hockey Association of India | url = http://icehockeyindia.com/teams.html#main | access-date = 2009-06-09 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20091118202141/http://www.icehockeyindia.com/teams.html#main | archive-date = 2009-11-18 | url-status = dead }}</ref> The IHAI has created programs to introduce the sport to a wider audience, for example through the Learn to Play program that has been implemented in [[Ladakh]], [[Kargil town|Kargil]], [[Delhi]], and [[Mumbai]]. As an alternative for players who do not have access to outdoor [[ice rink|ice rinks]], the association began holding programs in the [[in-line hockey]], building on existing in-line hockey being played in [[Gujarat]] and Mumbai.<ref>{{cite web | title = Learn to Play Programs | publisher = Ice Hockey Association of India | url = http://icehockeyindia.com/programs.html | access-date = 2009-06-09 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20091118202135/http://www.icehockeyindia.com/programs.html | archive-date = 2009-11-18 | url-status = dead }}</ref> In 2015, the Ice Hockey Association of India sent the men's national team to [[Canada]] to play a game against the [[ECHL]]'s [[Brampton Beast]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bramptonbeast.com/news/index.html?article_id=455 |title=BRAMPTON BEAST TO PLAY HISTORIC GAME AGAINST NATIONAL ICE HOCKEY TEAM OF INDIA |publisher=Brampton Beast Website |access-date= 2015-10-04}}</ref> On the team's trip through Canada, the team led by [[Adam Sherlip]] also played the [[CWHL]]'s [[Calgary Inferno]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://thehockeywriters.com/indias-hockey-presence-continuing-to-grow/ |title=India's Hockey Presence Continuing to Grow |date=3 October 2015 |publisher=The Hockey Writers |access-date=2015-10-04}}</ref>

In December 2025, IHAI launched their first national ice hockey league '''India Ice Hockey League'''. It aims to develop homegrown talent and help the national team to enter into the World Championships system. The league is set to be held from December to March annually. The competition will feature men's, women's and under-18 categories.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.eurohockey.com/article/5986-india-set-to-launch-its-first-national-ice-hockey-league.html |title=India set to launch its first national ice hockey league |date=23 December 2025 |publisher=EuroHockey }}</ref>

==National teams==
===Men's===
* [[India men's national ice hockey team]]
* [[India men's national junior ice hockey team]]
* [[India men's national under-18 ice hockey team]]

===Women's===
* [[India women's national ice hockey team]]

==References==
{{reflist|2}}

==External links==
*[http://www.iihf.com/iihf-home/countries/india.html India] at IIHF.com

{{Sports governing bodies in India}}
{{IIHF member associations}}

[[Category:Ice hockey governing bodies in Asia|India]]
[[Category:Ice hockey in India]]
[[Category:National members of the International Ice Hockey Federation|India]]
[[Category:Sports governing bodies in India]]
[[Category:1989 establishments in India]]
[[Category:Sports organizations established in 1989]]
[[Category:Sport in India]]
[[Category:Winter sports in India]]

Ice Hockey Association of India - Revision history

Onliporno at 11:41, 6 March 2026