Mamed Seifulov (C) of Kyrgyzstan competes during the men's ice hocky group B match between Kuwait and Kyrgyzstan at 2025 Asian Winter Games in Harbin, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, on Feb. 3, 2025. (Xinhua/Wang Jianwei)
HARBIN, Feb. 3 (Xinhua) -- Kyrgyzstan edged Kuwait 9-8 in overtime to claim victory in the men's ice hockey opening match of the Harbin Asian Winter Games on Monday, with four days to go before the opening ceremony of the Games.
Anton Tcibin and Ilia Drozdetskikh scored two goals, respectively, to help Kuwait take a 5-3 lead in the first period. Kuwait once extended the advantage to 7-3, but Kyrgyzstan tied the game 8-8 in the last minute of the match.
In overtime, Mamed Seifulov of Kyrgyzstan scored in just 19 seconds to secure the comeback victory.
"It was a hard win for us. We arrived here two days ago and still need adaptation. I am sure we will be better in the next game," said Sultan Ismanov of Kyrgyzstan. "The atmosphere for us was good. I want to say thanks to our fans and the Chinese people."
In other men's games, Singapore dominated Bahrain 20-1, and Hong Kong, China won over Macao, China 26-1. On the women's side, the Chinese Taipei defeated Thailand 4-1, while Kazakhstan eased past Hong Kong, China 12-0.
"It is a very beautiful place to compete here. We tried our best, and we can train more and play much better. There are not many ice rinks in Hong Kong, but we always try to have more training time," said Mok Hei Lam of Hong Kong, China.
Five ice hockey matches will take place on Tuesday, with China facing up with South Korea in the men's event. ■
Mamed Seifulov (L) of Kyrgyzstan competes during the men's ice hocky group B match between Kuwait and Kyrgyzstan at 2025 Asian Winter Games in Harbin, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, on Feb. 3, 2025. (Xinhua/Wang Jianwei)
Mamed Seifulov (C) of Kyrgyzstan competes during the men's ice hocky group B match between Kuwait and Kyrgyzstan at 2025 Asian Winter Games in Harbin, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, on Feb. 3, 2025. (Xinhua/Wang Jianwei)
Players of both sides compete during the men's ice hocky group B match between Kuwait and Kyrgyzstan at 2025 Asian Winter Games in Harbin, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, on Feb. 3, 2025. (Xinhua/Wang Jianwei)
Barvik Adam (C), goalkeeper of Kuwait blocks during the men's ice hocky group B match between Kuwait and Kyrgyzstan at 2025 Asian Winter Games in Harbin, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, on Feb. 3, 2025. (Xinhua/Wang Jianwei)
Thipwarintorn Yannakornthanapunt (R) of Thailand vies with Huang Yun-Chu of Chinese Taipei during the women's ice hocky group B match between Thailand and Chinese Taipei at 2025 Asian Winter Games in Harbin, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, on Feb. 3, 2025. (Xinhua/Chen Zhenhai)
Marisa Chimpradid (1st R) of Thailand vies with Huang Yun-Chu (1st L) of Chinese Taipei during the women's ice hocky group B match between Thailand and Chinese Taipei at 2025 Asian Winter Games in Harbin, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, on Feb. 3, 2025. (Xinhua/Chen Zhenhai)
Players of Chinese Taipei cheer up before the women's ice hocky group B match between Thailand and Chinese Taipei at 2025 Asian Winter Games in Harbin, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, on Feb. 3, 2025. (Xinhua/Chen Zhenhai)
Players of Chinese Taipei celebrate scoring during the women's ice hocky group B match between Thailand and Chinese Taipei at 2025 Asian Winter Games in Harbin, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, on Feb. 3, 2025. (Xinhua/Chen Zhenhai)
Thamida Kunthadapakorn (R) of Thailand blocks the puck during the women's ice hocky group B match between Thailand and Chinese Taipei at 2025 Asian Winter Games in Harbin, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, on Feb. 3, 2025. (Xinhua/Chen Zhenhai)
Thipwarintorn Yannakornthanapunt (C) of Thailand competes during the women's ice hocky group B match between Thailand and Chinese Taipei at 2025 Asian Winter Games in Harbin, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, on Feb. 3, 2025. (Xinhua/Chen Zhenhai)
Thipwarintorn Yannakornthanapunt (R) of Thailand vies with Chang En-Wei (L) of Chinese Taipei during the women's ice hocky group B match between Thailand and Chinese Taipei at 2025 Asian Winter Games in Harbin, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, on Feb. 3, 2025. (Xinhua/Chen Zhenhai)
Chan Joshua Yu Wen (C) of Singapore shoots during the men's ice hocky group B match between Singapore and Bahrain at 2025 Asian Winter Games in Harbin, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, on Feb. 3, 2025. (Xinhua/Wang Jianwei)
Yousif Alsalah (1st L) of Bahrain competes during the men's ice hocky group B match between Singapore and Bahrain at 2025 Asian Winter Games in Harbin, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, on Feb. 3, 2025. (Xinhua/Wang Jianwei)
Players of Singapore celebrate after winning the men's ice hocky group B match between Singapore and Bahrain at 2025 Asian Winter Games in Harbin, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, on Feb. 3, 2025. (Xinhua/Wang Jianwei)
Chan Joshua Yu Wen (R) of Singapore shoots to score during the men's ice hocky group B match between Singapore and Bahrain at 2025 Asian Winter Games in Harbin, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, on Feb. 3, 2025. (Xinhua/Wang Jianwei)
Khalifa Aladhab (C), goalkeeper of Bahrain receives comfort from his teammates during the men's ice hocky group B match between Singapore and Bahrain at 2025 Asian Winter Games in Harbin, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, on Feb. 3, 2025. (Xinhua/Wang Jianwei)
Chan Joshua Yu Wen (L) of Singapore shoots to score during the men's ice hocky group B match between Singapore and Bahrain at 2025 Asian Winter Games in Harbin, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, on Feb. 3, 2025. (Xinhua/Wang Jianwei)
Tam Wing Hei (C) of China's Hong Kong competes during the women's ice hocky group B match between Kazakhstan and China's Hong Kong at 2025 Asian Winter Games in Harbin, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, on Feb. 3, 2025. (Xinhua/Chen Zhenhai)
Players of Kazakhstan celebrate scoring during the women's ice hocky group B match between Kazakhstan and China's Hong Kong at 2025 Asian Winter Games in Harbin, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, on Feb. 3, 2025. (Xinhua/Chen Zhenhai)
Anastassiya Orazbayeva (L) of Kazakhstan competes during the women's ice hocky group B match between Kazakhstan and China's Hong Kong at 2025 Asian Winter Games in Harbin, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, on Feb. 3, 2025. (Xinhua/Chen Zhenhai)
Munira Sayakhatkyzy (L) of Kazakhstan celebrates scoring with teammate during the women's ice hocky group B match between Kazakhstan and China's Hong Kong at 2025 Asian Winter Games in Harbin, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, on Feb. 3, 2025. (Xinhua/Chen Zhenhai)
Players of China's Hong Kong comfort goalie Mok Hei Lam (2nd L) after the women's ice hocky group B match between Kazakhstan and China's Hong Kong at 2025 Asian Winter Games in Harbin, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, on Feb. 3, 2025. (Xinhua/Chen Zhenhai)
Anastassiya Orazbayeva (L) of Kazakhstan competes during the women's ice hocky group B match between Kazakhstan and China's Hong Kong at 2025 Asian Winter Games in Harbin, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, on Feb. 3, 2025. (Xinhua/Chen Zhenhai)
Munira Sayakhatkyzy (L) of Kazakhstan competes during the women's ice hocky group B match between Kazakhstan and China's Hong Kong at 2025 Asian Winter Games in Harbin, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, on Feb. 3, 2025. (Xinhua/Chen Zhenhai)
