The Senior National Ice Hockey Championship 2026 is set to begin on July 2 at the Himadri Indoor Ice Rink in Dehradun, the capital of Uttarakhand. Twenty-five teams from across the country, comprising over 500 players, will participate in the event. Notably, the host state Uttarakhand’s senior team will not be participating in this tournament.
25 Teams and Over 500 Players to Participate
Dehradun is once again set to host a national-level sports event. The Senior Men’s and Women’s National Ice Hockey Championship will be held at the Himadri Indoor Ice Rink, located within the Maharana Pratap Sports College complex, starting July 2. The competition will run until July 10, featuring more than 500 players from across the nation.
A total of 25 teams—comprising 14 men’s and 11 women’s squads—will compete in this national-level event. Amit Belwal, the venue manager of the Himadri Indoor Ice Rink and mentor to the Uttarakhand ice hockey team, stated that all preparations for the tournament have been completed. Players from various states across the country will showcase their skills during this nine-day national championship.
Teams from These States to Participate in the Men’s Category
Several matches will be played daily during the tournament, promising fierce competition among national-level players. Strong teams from states and organizations such as Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, the Union Territory of Ladakh, the Indian Army, and the ITBP will participate in the men’s category.
Teams from These States to Participate in the Women’s Category
Meanwhile, teams from various states—including Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Chandigarh, Telangana, and Karnataka—will take the field in the women’s category. Players from many of these teams possess experience in national and international competitions, suggesting that the matches will be highly competitive.
The Himadri Indoor Ice Rink: A Special Venue
It is worth noting that the Himadri Indoor Ice Rink in Dehradun is among the country’s select modern ice sports centers. Over the past few years, it has successfully hosted numerous national and age-group competitions. This is the reason the Ice Hockey Association has once again chosen Dehradun to host the national championship.
Host Team Uttarakhand Not Participating
Despite hosting the national championship, Uttarakhand’s senior team is not participating in the competition this time. Amit Belwal explained that the state’s senior team is currently in a developmental phase and requires more time and experience to compete on par with strong national-level teams.
