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 05:57 2017 Tuesday ,29 August

Indonesia explores new, alternative tourism markets

GMT 12:19 2016 Thursday ,08 December

Kirk Douglas at 100, still in love

GMT 17:27 2017 Thursday ,05 October

Major Bowie exhibition to close in New York

GMT 00:13 2016 Friday ,10 June

After 11-month peak, oil prices take a breather

GMT 05:31 2017 Sunday ,05 November

Mexico makes 'major' 1.5-bn barrel oil find

GMT 04:11 2017 Thursday ,20 April

And the world’s ‘most beautiful woman’ is

GMT 11:40 2017 Thursday ,27 April

UN eyes new Yemen talks by end of May

GMT 05:19 2016 Saturday ,31 December

UAE tightens security for New Year celebrations

GMT 18:27 2017 Wednesday ,15 February

India should give Kashmiris right to self-determination

GMT 04:26 2017 Saturday ,26 August

Hany refuses $30000 offer to sing in Damascus

GMT 12:52 2017 Monday ,06 March

Air pollution linked to 600,000 deaths

GMT 01:14 2017 Friday ,17 November

Yemeni official says diabetics increased in Yemen

GMT 00:04 2017 Wednesday ,20 December

Kuwaiti cabinet sworn in before National Assembly

GMT 14:40 2015 Thursday ,08 October

Carlyle, Pictet launch fine art finance service

GMT 10:55 2015 Sunday ,06 December

Azerbaijan mourns 'many deaths' after oil rig fire
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