Muscat – On a quiet rink, thousands of kilometres from hockey’s traditional heartlands, a group of young Omani women carved their names into sporting history.

On March 9, Oman stood alongside 42 other nations hosting matches for the IIHF Global Girls Game – a worldwide celebration of women’s ice hockey organised by the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) in Switzerland to promote women’s participation in the sport. By the end of the day, the event had earned recognition from Guinness World Records for the ‘Most host countries for the same ice hockey exhibition match event’.

But for Oman’s women, the achievement meant far more than a world record certificate. It was proof that a sport once considered impossible in the Gulf could now produce athletes, leaders and ambitions capable of competing on the international stage.

Led by captain Al Firdaus Al Kindi and assistant captain Khulood Ambusaidi, the squad represents more than a national team. It is the face of a movement slowly taking shape on borrowed ice and limited training hours.

Among the players are Dalal Ambusaidi, Aysal Waheed, Zina Al Jabri, Layal Al Ajmi, Erileck Cameron, Mariangel Delgado, Aya Al Magrouqi, Sara Bakheet, Khadija Al Riyami, Fatma Al Hajri, Ira Amit, Fajer Al Amri, Mawada, Nahlla and Mariam Al Siddiqi — young women balancing studies, work and personal sacrifice for a sport still fighting for recognition in the region.

Behind the bench, head coach Ibrahim Mohammady has introduced the technical discipline and structure needed to elevate the team’s standards, assisted by Gregory Cameron. Off the ice, much of the programme’s momentum has been driven by Saud Al Aufi, chairman of the Oman Skating Sports Committee and one of the strongest advocates for women’s ice hockey in the sultanate.

In an exclusive interview with Muscat Daily, Al Aufi spoke candidly about the struggle to build an ice hockey culture in a country with no dedicated rink and limited resources — and why he believes the sport’s future in Oman has never looked brighter.

“This record has given us validation,” he said. “Internationally, it shows Oman is serious about women’s ice hockey. Locally, it strengthens our position when seeking sponsorship and support. We want companies to see these athletes as an investment in Omani youth.”

For now, the team’s ambitions remain both simple and urgent – secure regular ice time, compete internationally and create pathways for the next generation.

“We have three priorities,” Al Aufi explained. “A dedicated rink with proper training hours, participation in at least one IIHF-sanctioned tournament every year, and a structured development programme for young girls. Talent alone is not enough. Athletes need systems and continuity.”

The team’s rise has already surprised many in the Gulf hockey community. Despite training limitations, Oman climbed from sixth place to second in regional competition within just a few years.

Yet the reality behind that progress remains harsh.

“Ice hockey is built on repetition,” Al Aufi said. “Players need constant work on skating, puck control, and tactical systems. Right now, many of our athletes train only once a week, often at difficult hours. That is not sustainable if you want to compete seriously.”

Equipment and travel costs also continue to weigh heavily on players and their families.

“Stable funding is critical,” he said. “Ice time, travel and equipment are expensive, and many players cover these costs personally. Women’s hockey is still unfamiliar to many people in Oman, which makes sponsorship difficult. But our results prove this team deserves investment.”

Al Aufi believes international exposure is the fastest way to accelerate the team’s development.

“You cannot learn speed by training slowly,” he remarked. “Competing abroad exposes players to higher levels of intensity and structure. Even friendly matches against teams from the UAE or Kuwait would raise our standards significantly.”

At grassroots level, the committee has already begun introducing skating programmes for girls under 14, hoping to establish a long-term development pipeline for the sport.

“The senior team’s journey from sixth to second place proves progress is possible,” Al Aufi said. “Now we must make sure the next generation starts from a stronger foundation.”

For many players, however, the journey has always been about more than medals. Captain Al Kindi speaks about the sport with the quiet conviction of someone who understands every obstacle personally.

“To every young Omani girl who feels her dream is too unusual, too expensive or too far away – I understand,” she said. “We trained in difficult conditions. We questioned ourselves many times. But what we achieved proves that determination can outrun limitations.”

She paused before adding the message she hopes young girls across Oman will hear clearly – “You do not need perfect conditions to begin. You just need to begin.”

Assistant captain Khulood Ambusaidi believes the team’s success was built through persistence few people ever witnessed.

“There are no shortcuts,” she said. “We went from sixth place to silver because we trained when no one was watching. Hard work is the only path to results. To every young Omani girl: your effort will always show in your success. Keep working.”

Goalkeeper Dalal Ambusaidi highlighted the unity that carried the team through difficult moments.

“No goalkeeper stops a puck alone,” she said. “Every save comes from teammates blocking, communicating and believing together. To young girls across Oman: teamwork is our superpower. Find your team and achieve everything together.”

Teammate Aysal Waheed echoed the same spirit, describing the team’s rise as a lesson in resilience.

“We built this team from zero,” she said. “That struggle became our identity. Hockey taught me discipline, consistency and trust.”

Her advice to young girls was direct and unapologetically ambitious:

“Dream big. Believe in yourself. Then take the first step toward what you want.”

In a country better known for desert landscapes than frozen arenas, Oman’s women have already accomplished something few thought possible. They are world-record holders, regional contenders, and pioneers of a sport still searching for its place in the Gulf.