Dawood Marafi poses with some of the players after the opening ceremony.
KUWAIT CITY, April 17, (KUNA): Kuwait hammered Malaysia 15-1 in the opening match of the World Ice Hockey championship. The event, organized by the Kuwait Winter Games Club, witnessed Kuwait scoring five goals in the opening period, six in the second, and four in the final period. Malaysia managed to secure their lone goal during the second period. On the same day, Mongolia secured a convincing 9-3 win over Indonesia.
After the match, Kuwaiti player Mohammad Al-Duaij expressed confidence that the team’s impressive performance would boost its morale and readiness for the crucial match against Mongolia on Thursday. He thanked the Kuwait Winter Games Club and the dedicated Kuwaiti fans for their unwavering support, recognizing their pivotal role in the team’s success.
The championship was officially inaugurated by Dawood Marafi, Minister of State for National Assembly Affairs, Minister of State for Youth Affairs, and Minister of State for Communications Affairs, who conveyed his best wishes to all participating teams.
In his remarks to reporters following the opening, Minister Marafi emphasized the commitment to providing comprehensive support to young athletes, particularly in hosting significant international, continental, and regional championships. Similarly, Sheikh Fahad Al-Nasser Al-Sabah, Chairman of the Kuwaiti Olympic Committee, affirmed the committee’s steadfast dedication to supporting all sports federations and specialized clubs in organizing major tournaments.
The tournament, spanning from April 16 to 19, is taking place at the ice skating rink of the Kuwait Winter Games Club in the Bayan area.