Turkmenistan Ice Hockey Players Suspended for Attacking Hong Kong Players at Asian Winter Games

Four Turkmenistan Ice Hockey Players Suspended for Attacking Hong Kong Players

Four Turkmenistan ice hockey players have been suspended from the remaining matches in the Asian Winter Games Harbin 2025 for deliberately attacking Chinese Hong Kong players on Sunday. The incident occurred after the Group C men's ice hockey match between Hong Kong and Turkmenistan, where Hong Kong emerged victorious with a score of 5-1.

Following the game, tensions flared during the post-match handshake, leading to a confrontation. Several Hong Kong players were knocked to the ice, and some Turkmenistan players surrounded and attacked them. The altercation lasted for roughly a minute.

The referee announced on-site that due to the "fighting" incident, Kakabayev, Geldimyradov, and Dovletmyradov were each given a five-minute major penalty and a 20-minute game misconduct penalty.

On Monday, the Hong Kong Olympic Committee confirmed that they had been informed by the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) of the additional suspension imposed on the four Turkmen athletes.

"We welcome the swift response and fair handling of the incident by the International Ice Hockey Federation," said Fok Kai-kong, head of the Hong Kong delegation at the Asian Winter Games. "Regardless of the outcome, athletes should never be subjected to violence; this is not something a civilized society should tolerate."

Three Hong Kong players were injured in the incident, but fortunately, the injuries were minor. One player required stitches to his hand, but all three players are in stable condition and will participate in Hong Kong's upcoming qualification match against Kyrgyzstan on Monday evening.

Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, John Lee, visited the three injured athletes at the Athletes' Village on Monday. He praised the athletes for remaining calm and composed during the incident, demonstrating the professionalism and sports ethics of Chinese Hong Kong athletes.

Lee has instructed the Hong Kong Sports Association and the Cultural, Sports and Tourism Bureau to follow up on the incident and ensure the safety of Hong Kong's athletes.