Many of the players often face difficult odds, from social pressures to logistical and financial challenges in pursuing the sport. The players are required to wear the hijab head covering under their helmets, in keeping with the Islamic dress code mandated after the Islamic Revolution β though in recent years women in big cities have increasingly flouted the law.
The victory marked a leap forward for the sport, allowing it to emerge from the sidelines and claim a place in the country. At the rink in Tehran, two teams battle it out for victory to the frenzied cheers of hundreds of exuberant spectators β both women and men. The M. R team, wearing red and white, and the Pandas, in green and black jerseys, are two out of the six teams competing in the league this year.
The young women glide across the ice, skillfully manoeuvring the puck at the Iran Mall ice rink β one of only four in the country β which opened less than six years ago. Financial constraints can nonetheless be a significant hurdle as many talented athletes come from less affluent backgrounds. Despite these challenges, the players remain highly motivated and show great potential, according to Sanaei. Women players beat the odds to cut a path for ice hockey in Iran by Majid Sourati and Sebastien Ricci February 3, pm.
But the road to the league is not without obstacles. Rahmani echoed this sentiment.
