The ongoing Asian Winter Games put Hong Kong men's ice hockey team into fierce competitions with top players around the world and helped members improve through tough losses, said the team leader recently in an interview in host city Harbin.
Speaking to China Global Television Network (CGTN), Wang Tsan Lam, leader of Hong Kong, China men's ice hockey team, said the intense races tested the team's capability and showed how much they can improve.
Wang's team on Tuesday lost quarterfinals to Kazakhstan after competing in fierce matches in 9th Asian Winter Games, which opened Friday in Harbin, capital of northeast China's Heilongjiang Province.
"Going up against these tough opponents, like some of the top players in the world, really teaches me a lot and shows how much I can prove and get better on the game. And for our team, I think it helps us bond because through these like these tough losses we can bounce back and learn more," said Wang.
Coach of the team Carey Durant said despite the loss, the team still gained impressive success in the large-scale international sports event and the remarkable achievements came from strict implementation of the preset criteria.
"We just set some criteria and some goals down and we stuck by them. And we knew exactly what we wanted to do, and we did it. And you know, I'll tell you that's made a world difference for us in the success that we've had here," he said.
Speaking about the development of winter sports in Hong Kong, the special administrative region located in south China, Wang said he has been witnessing the fast growth of his team and the increasing popularity of winter sports among the region's residents.
"Teams like us, Hong Kong, China, are performing better at a higher level, at a bigger stage. And that's what's showing the people in Hong Kong, China, what this sport is about and what is the potential if you play the sport. So, it's really driving people to try it out. And winter sports are great because they're very fun and these team sports also build a lot of skills like cooperation. And I think it's come into the eyes of more people, so that's what makes a difference," he said.
Tough opponents help me get better: Hong Kong ice hockey team
