Padma Chorol’s journey in Indian women’s ice hockey began long before she became a familiar name at the national level. Growing up in Ladakh, where sporting opportunities for girls were scarce and infrastructure was minimal, her first steps on ice came through speed skating. Over the past decade, she has emerged as a trailblazer, carving out a career in a sport that was once almost inaccessible to women in the region.
Coming from a sporting family, Padma found her earliest inspiration at home. Her brothers — Nawang Stupdan and Tainang Dorge, an Army ice skating player, played a pivotal role in shaping her path. She took to the ice at the age of 10, encouraged constantly to train harder and aim higher at a time when very few girls ventured into competitive ice sports.
Recalling her beginnings, Padma said, “They always motivated me to come into ice hockey. They persuaded me to train more, to compete and to believe in myself. They wanted me to make a name for myself in this sport.”
She initially trained as a speed skater, a foundation that helped her develop balance, stamina and control. With Ladakh’s lakes freezing every winter, her transition to ice hockey was gradual. In the absence of women’s teams, Padma trained and played alongside boys, an experience that would shape her as a player.
“That is when my game truly improved,” she says. “Playing with boys made me faster, stronger and mentally tougher. What began as a compulsion, became my greatest strength. It sharpened my physical ability and my understanding of the game.”
A major milestone came in 2016 with the formation of the Indian women’s national ice hockey team. Padma was among the first players selected, a moment filled with pride and uncertainty. “We didn’t know what international ice hockey really demanded. Just being selected for the national team felt like a huge achievement,” she recalls.
The initial years were marked by severe challenges. Training was restricted to two or three months each year and depended entirely on natural ice. Indoor rinks and artificial surfaces were absent, competitive exposure was limited, and equipment was in short supply, often forcing players to share ill-fitting skates and sticks.
These limitations were exposed during international competitions, where the team struggled to adapt to artificial ice and indoor conditions. “The ice was much faster and far more slippery. Even controlling the puck became a challenge,” Padma says.
Despite the setbacks, the team persisted. Their efforts were rewarded in 2019, when India won the bronze medal at the IIHF Women’s Challenge Cup of Asia Division I, a breakthrough that validated years of struggle behind the scenes.
Momentum was halted by the Covid-19 pandemic, which kept players away from international competition and structured training for nearly three years. “It was a very difficult time mentally, but we never lost belief,” Padma says.
That belief resurfaced in 2025, when India returned to the international arena at the IIHF Women’s Asia Cup in the UAE. Competing between May 31 and June 6, the team secured a historic bronze medal, marking India’s second podium finish at the Asian level.
“That medal was extremely emotional,” Padma says. “It made us realise where we started-from frozen lakes and borrowed equipment-and where we had reached.”
Today, Padma is an India international and serves as the assistant captain of the UT Ladakh women’s ice hockey team. She now mentors young players who are benefiting from opportunities she never had, a shift she largely credits to the Khelo India Winter Games (KIWG).
“Khelo India has completely changed the ecosystem,” Padma says. “It is nurturing young talent and providing regular competitive platforms.” She highlights how the Games have expanded access beyond traditional ice regions. “Earlier, ice hockey was seen as only Ladakh’s sport. Now players from other states are gaining exposure, experience and confidence through Khelo India,” she adds.
According to her, the platform has helped athletes earn recognition, sharpen their skills and even find employment opportunities. “For many young players, this is the first time they are truly being noticed,” she says.
Padma is encouraged by the broader changes taking place around the sport. Ladakh now boasts an artificial ice rink, with Dehradun and Pune following suit.
For the first time, Indian women’s ice hockey has a pathway and that’s why they are among for high. “Indian women’s ice hockey currently competes in the fourth division internationally. With domestic leagues finally in place, the goal is clear. We are looking at the qualification for the World Championships in 2027. And I believe it is achievable.” Padma signed off.