On January 18, the World Championship in hockey for players under 20 years old (U-20) kicked off in Bishkek, as reported by the State Agency for Physical Culture and Sports of the Kyrgyz Republic.
High-profile guests attended the opening, including the Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers of the Kyrgyz Republic Edil Baisalov, the Director of the State Agency for Physical Culture and Sports Kazybek Moldazhiyev, the Mayor of Bishkek Aibek Junushaliev, the Chairman of the National Olympic Committee of the Kyrgyz Republic Umbetaly Kydyraliev, a member of the Council of the International Ice Hockey Federation Franz Reindl, and the President of the Ice Hockey Federation of the Kyrgyz Republic Anvar Omorkanov, as well as athletes, coaches, and fans.
Edil Baisalov expressed his joy at the arrival of young hockey players from different countries to Kyrgyz land and emphasized that such international competitions help strengthen friendly ties through sports, providing youth with a unique experience. He also wished the participants fair play and unforgettable matches.
On the opening day of the tournament, a match took place between the Kyrgyzstan national team and the team from Hong Kong (China).
As a result of the match, the Kyrgyzstan national team won against Hong Kong with a final score of 4:1.
The U-20 World Hockey Championship will last until January 24, featuring teams from Kyrgyzstan, Mexico, Luxembourg, South Africa, Iran, and Hong Kong (China).
