Hey there, winter sports fans! ❄️ Have you heard the exciting news? The men’s ice hockey team from China’s Macao is getting ready to shine at the 9th Asian Winter Games in Harbin in 2025! 🏒✨
The team just had its final training camp in Shenzhen, a city in the south of China, on Friday. They are super excited to represent their region at the big games starting on February 7 in Harbin, which is famous for its ice and snow. ⛸️🌨️
What’s really inspiring is that the team doesn’t have professional players. Instead, it’s made up of firefighters, office workers, and even teenagers! Yes, you read that right. These everyday heroes and young enthusiasts are chasing their ice hockey dreams. 🚒👨💻🧑🎓
After their only ice rink in the Macao Special Administrative Region closed down, the team didn’t give up. They traveled to Zhuhai, another city in Guangdong Province, three times a week to practice. Talk about dedication! 💪
For their last practice before the big event, they went to Shenzhen, which has a full-sized ice rink. This helps them get a real feel for the ice and prepare better for the competition in Harbin. 🥅
The team was founded 20 years ago, and the average age of the players is just 23! All of them are from Macao. Their captain, Leong Chon Kong, has been with the team since the very beginning. Even though they don’t have the best facilities, their love for ice hockey keeps them going. Captain Leong wants to inspire the next generation to keep chasing their dreams. 🌟
Isn’t their story amazing? It just goes to show that with passion and hard work, you can overcome any obstacle. Let’s cheer them on as they take on the ice in Harbin! Go Team Macao! 🎉🏒
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
