Harbin: Kuwait's ice hockey team is set to face off against Kyrgyzstan in the 9th Asian Winter Games in Harbin, China, from February 7-14, on Monday as part of Group B that also includes Bahrain and Singapore. The Blues have conducted their final training on Sunday at the ice rink, where the match will take place, amid the athletes' marked enthusiasm and great support on the part of the squad's technical and executive staff. According to Kuwait News Agency, the Kuwaiti team's German coach, Andreas Bartkevich, stated that the squad has distinguished players who can achieve positive results during the game, which he expected to be hard and tough. He affirmed that his athletes are well-prepared to do well during the tournament thanks to their recent training camp in the UAE, which has created much harmony and understanding among the players. For his part, the Kuwaiti team's captain, Jasem Al-Awadhi, said all players are determined to do their utmost to win in the first confrontation versus Kyrgyzstan. He consi dered the UAE-hosted training camp, along with previous preparations in Kuwait, a significant opportunity for the squad to apply the coach's ideas. Kuwaiti athletes compete in four sports during the 9th Asian Winter Games in Harbin, notably ice hockey, figure skating, ice skating, and curling.
