KUNA photo Kuwait and Kyrgyzstan players battle for the puck during the Asian Winter Games in Harbin, China.

HARBIN, China, Feb 3: The Kuwaiti ice hockey team suffered a hard-fought 9-8 defeat against Kyrgyzstan after extra time in their opening match at the ninth Asian Winter Games "Harbin 2025," held in Heilongjiang province, northeastern China. The game ended in a draw in regular time before Kyrgyzstan secured the overtime victory.

Fahid Al-Ajmi, director of Kuwait's delegation at the tournament, commended the team’s strong performance against one of the toughest opponents in their group. "The victory was within reach, just seconds away from the end of regular time," he noted.

Looking ahead, Al-Ajmi emphasized the importance of Kuwait’s upcoming matches against Singapore, scheduled for today, and Bahrain on Thursday, as the team aims for crucial wins. He also extended his gratitude to the Kuwait Olympic Committee and the Public Authority for Sports for their continuous support of Kuwaiti athletes in this prestigious continental event.

Meanwhile, Kuwait’s curling team will kick off its campaign today in the mixed doubles competition, facing Mongolia and Thailand in Group B, which also features Japan, Hong Kong, and Chinese Taipei.