Arak: The national women's under-23 indoor hockey championship is being held at the 2,000-seat Shohada-ye 5 Mordad Hall in Arak, bringing together 11 teams from 10 provinces - West Azerbaijan, Qazvin, Khorasan Razavi, Ilam, Markazi, Gilan, Sistan and Baluchestan, Semnan, and Qom - as well as two teams from Hamedan. The tournament serves as a qualifier to select top players for the 2026 Asian competitions in Oman.

According to Islamic Republic News Agency, this championship is a crucial event for identifying and training talented athletes who will represent the country in future international competitions. The inclusion of diverse teams from various provinces underscores the nationwide interest and effort to develop hockey at the grassroots level. The event is expected to provide a platform for emerging players to showcase their skills and to gain invaluable experience in a competitive setting.