sea games ice hockey makes splash in tropics puddles and all
Last Updated : GMT 06:49:16
Arab Today, arab today
Arab Today, arab today
Last Updated : GMT 06:49:16
Arab Today, arab today

SEA Games: Ice hockey makes splash in tropics, puddles and all

Arab Today, arab today

Arab Today, arab today SEA Games: Ice hockey makes splash in tropics, puddles and all

Puddles on the rink didn't dampen
Puddles - Arab Today

Puddles on the rink didn't dampen enthusiasm as ice hockey made its Southeast Asian Games debut in tropical Malaysia, a country with no winter months but with ambitions in winter sports.

As the hosts beat Indonesia 10-3 in the first SEA Games ice hockey game, marshalls with squeegees had to mop up water after the ice started to melt in the first period.

Keeping the ice frozen isn't easy in Malaysia, a steamy, winterless country where snow is unheard of, temperatures rarely dip below 20 degrees C (68 F) and humidity hovers at 80 percent.

But Malaysia's coach, former Hungarian international Kristof Kovago, said his players were used to a bit of water on the rink -- and even saw it as an advantage.

"It is common in Southeast Asia because the weather is way too hot and very humid, and there are a lot of people inside (the venue), so it's very difficult to keep the temperature down," he said.

"We're used to it, that's our advantage actually. We've practised a lot in this kind of situation," Kovago explained.

"It's more sticky, so the puck will not slide. So a lot of times, you try to control the puck and you've just lost it because it will get stuck in the water.

"So it's not really an advantage but we got used to it, so we learned to play in these kind of conditions."

- Turning up the heat -

Sunday's game was at Kuala Lumpur's brand new national ice skating stadium, in the heart of a suburban shopping mall which remains partially under construction.

The rink, described by Indonesia's coach Gary Tan as the best in Southeast Asia, has had a few teething problems and it was previously blanketed by a thick fog, before staff adjusted the temperature settings.

On Sunday the rink was ringed by hundreds of enthusiastic fans, raising the temperature beyond normal levels.

"In the first period they found it difficult to skate but eventually they were able to skate well and overall the play was quite good," said Hisham Yahaya, Malaysia's team leader.

"They're used to soft ice. The ice here isn't very hard but they're able to adjust."

Ice hockey remains in its infancy in Southeast Asia and is usually played by small groups of enthusiasts.

Indonesia's team have only been together for a matter of months, and they are playing only their second tournament after making their debut at this year's Asian Winter Games in Japan.

"This is a milestone in the bigger development of this super-beautiful sport, ice hockey," said Indonesia's captain, Jonathan Sudharta.

"Asia is not known for ice games but I think this is a great milestone to develop this even further in the future."

He added: "It's a beautiful rink compared to what we have in Indonesia, so we don't want to complain about the wet or anything."

Tan, Indonesia's coach, also brushed off any concerns about the surface, saying a few puddles were "normal" in Asia.

"I'm happy for the development of the sport of ice hockey. It's a stepping stone, we waited a long time for this," he said.

Figure skating and speed skating will also make their debut at the SEA Games, a biennial competition where the sporting programme is usually tailored to suit the host nation.

source:AFP

arabstoday
arabstoday

Name *

E-mail *

Comment Title*

Comment *

: Characters Left

Mandatory *

Terms of use

Publishing Terms: Not to offend the author, or to persons or sanctities or attacking religions or divine self. And stay away from sectarian and racial incitement and insults.

I agree with the Terms of Use

Security Code*

sea games ice hockey makes splash in tropics puddles and all sea games ice hockey makes splash in tropics puddles and all

 



Name *

E-mail *

Comment Title*

Comment *

: Characters Left

Mandatory *

Terms of use

Publishing Terms: Not to offend the author, or to persons or sanctities or attacking religions or divine self. And stay away from sectarian and racial incitement and insults.

I agree with the Terms of Use

Security Code*

sea games ice hockey makes splash in tropics puddles and all sea games ice hockey makes splash in tropics puddles and all

 



GMT 21:52 2017 Thursday ,19 October

Israeli forces arrest 7 Palestinians in West Bank

GMT 15:41 2017 Wednesday ,04 October

Putin warns against double standards in war on terror

GMT 23:42 2017 Monday ,18 September

Mattis 'shocked' by low level of US military readiness

GMT 17:36 2017 Saturday ,14 October

What's at stake for business in Iran's nuclear deal

GMT 14:14 2017 Saturday ,11 February

Ghada Adel praises participation with Adel Imam

GMT 21:00 2017 Thursday ,05 October

Scores of settlers storm into Al Aqsa

GMT 11:56 2017 Wednesday ,29 November

Iraqis throng to Picasso in Baghdad

GMT 05:43 2018 Wednesday ,12 September

"Ala" Syria determined to liberate Idleb from terrorism

GMT 19:47 2018 Thursday ,18 January

Sultan Al Qasimi launches Sharjah real estate projects

GMT 10:58 2017 Thursday ,20 April

Kabbara meets Saudi counterpart, IMO chief in Cairo

GMT 00:10 2017 Tuesday ,10 October

Turkey calls for new round of Syria talks in Geneva

GMT 00:29 2017 Tuesday ,24 October

HM King congratulates UN secretary-general

GMT 10:42 2017 Monday ,22 May

Egypt refers 48 IS suspects to military court

GMT 05:18 2017 Thursday ,12 October

Sub-Saharan Africa to grow at a slower rate this year

GMT 03:34 2017 Monday ,18 September

August24th-September23rd

GMT 23:32 2017 Thursday ,27 July

10 fishing boats to be sunk for poaching

GMT 08:09 2017 Tuesday ,25 April

Israeli enemy drone violates Lebanese skies

GMT 12:06 2017 Saturday ,21 January

Weakness in oil and gas dents GE earnings

GMT 17:20 2017 Tuesday ,01 August

Gum disease linked to higher cancer risk in women
Arab Today, arab today
 
 Arab Today Facebook,arab today facebook  Arab Today Twitter,arab today twitter Arab Today Rss,arab today rss  Arab Today Youtube,arab today youtube  Arab Today Youtube,arab today youtube

Maintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2021 ©

Maintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2021 ©

arabstoday arabstoday arabstoday arabstoday
arabstoday arabstoday arabstoday
arabstoday
بناية النخيل - رأس النبع _ خلف السفارة الفرنسية _بيروت - لبنان
arabstoday, Arabstoday, Arabstoday