Japan's Akari Fukunishi is the only woman competing in para ice hockey at the 2026 Paralympics as she carries the torch for all women in hopes of sport being included at the 2030 Paralympics in France.
Japanese defender Akari Fukunishi is the only woman competing in para ice hockey at the 2026 Paralympics in Milan. By the time the 2030 Paralympics are held in France, the hope is that women's para ice hockey will be an official sport at the Games.
At a press conference on International Women's Day in Milan, Fukunishi, along with World Para Ice Hockey senior manager Michelle Laflamme and International Paralympic Committee vice-president John Petersson spoke on their goals for the future of the sport.
Fukunishi made her debut at the Paralympics for Japan in their opener against Czechia.
“Yesterday, it was exciting to be on the ice but, at the same time, quite a pity that there are so few female players in the world,” Fukunishi said.
“From this opportunity at the Paralympic Games, I expect more Japanese female players to start ice hockey. I hope to come back in 2030 as a member of a Japan female team.”
USA won gold this past summer at the inaugural women's para ice hockey World Championships in Slovakia.
To get women's para ice hockey to the Paralympics in 2030, the sport needs more nations competing, immediately. Currently only Canada, USA, Norway, Great Britain and Australia are fielding full national team rosters, while the World Championships also featured a Team World.
“We hope more athletes, nations, members and partners will join them, and then we can be in a press conference in future Games where we are talking about a tournament for women in ice hockey," said Petersson.
To achieve their goal, the 2026 World Championships must meet the criteria of hosting a World Championship with at least eight nations from three regions. Without that goal being met in 2026, the sport will not be eligible for the 2030 Paralympics. With Canada and USA in North America, Great Britain and Norway in Europe, and Australia in Oceania, the regional requirement has been met, but the tournament must hold at least three more national teams.