Hou Yuyang (2nd R) celebrates with teammates after scoring during the men's ice hockey group A match between Japan and China at 2025 Asian Winter Games in Harbin, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, on Feb. 10, 2025. (Xinhua/Zhang Tao)
HARBIN, Feb. 10 (Xinhua) -- Japan secured a 2-1 victory over China in a men's ice hockey Group A match at the Harbin Asian Winter Games on Monday, setting up a quarterfinal clash with Thailand.
China took the lead early through Hou Yuyang's opening goal, but Japan equalized when Riku Ishida converted a power play opportunity. Midway through the third period, Kenta Takagi's long-range effort put Japan ahead.
With under two minutes left, China pulled their goalkeeper to press forward with six skaters, but Japan's defense held steady to seal the win.
"I'm not satisfied with my performance today," said China's 19-year-old goalkeeper Chen Shifeng. "The team played well and followed the coach's plan, but I take responsibility for the goals we conceded. Today's match gave me valuable experience, and I am looking forward to showing a better performance in the knockout rounds."
In other Group A matches, Kazakhstan defeated South Korea 2-1 to top Group A with a perfect record, while Chinese Taipei won 3-1 over Thailand.
Kyrgyzstan edged Hong Kong, China 6-5 in overtime to face South Korea in the quarterfinals.
In the 9th-10th place match, Kuwait claimed an 8-4 victory over Turkmenistan, Singapore dominated India 13-2 to secure the 11th place, while Macao, China defeated Bahrain 4-3 to take the 13th place.
The men's quarterfinals are scheduled to take place on Tuesday. ■
Isogai Sota (2nd R) of Japan competes during the men's ice hockey group A match between Japan and China at 2025 Asian Winter Games in Harbin, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, on Feb. 10, 2025. (Xinhua/Li Jianan)
Players of China celerate scoring during the men's ice hockey group A match between Japan and China at 2025 Asian Winter Games in Harbin, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, on Feb. 10, 2025. (Xinhua/Li Ziheng)
Players of China celerate scoring during the men's ice hockey group A match between Japan and China at 2025 Asian Winter Games in Harbin, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, on Feb. 10, 2025. (Xinhua/Liu Yun)
Players of China celerate scoring during the men's ice hockey group A match between Japan and China at 2025 Asian Winter Games in Harbin, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, on Feb. 10, 2025. (Xinhua/Liu Yun)
Takagi Kenta (L) of Japan competes during the men's ice hockey group A match between Japan and China at 2025 Asian Winter Games in Harbin, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, on Feb. 10, 2025. (Xinhua/Li Jianan)
Hou Yuyang of China competes during the men's ice hockey group A match between Japan and China at 2025 Asian Winter Games in Harbin, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, on Feb. 10, 2025. (Xinhua/Yang Lei)
Li Zhihao (R) of China vies with Ishida Riku of Japan during the men's ice hockey group A match between Japan and China at 2025 Asian Winter Games in Harbin, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, on Feb. 10, 2025. (Xinhua/Li Ziheng)
Zhuang Xinyu (C) of China competes during the men's ice hockey group A match between Japan and China at 2025 Asian Winter Games in Harbin, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, on Feb. 10, 2025. (Xinhua/Zhang Tao)
Players of China celerate scoring during the men's ice hockey group A match between Japan and China at 2025 Asian Winter Games in Harbin, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, on Feb. 10, 2025. (Xinhua/Li Ziheng)
Mamed Seifulov (L) of Kyrgyzstan competes during the ice hockey men's quarterfinals ranking match between China's Hong Kong and Kyrgyzstan at 9th Asian Winter Games in Harbin, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, Feb. 10, 2025. (Xinhua/Xu Yanan)
Goalkeeper of China's Hong Kong Cheung Ching Ho (R) concedes a goal during the ice hockey men's quarterfinals ranking match between China's Hong Kong and Kyrgyzstan at 9th Asian Winter Games in Harbin, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, Feb. 10, 2025. (Xinhua/Jiang Han)
Chu Ryan Chak Hay (front) of China's Hong Kong competes during the ice hockey men's quarterfinals ranking match between China's Hong Kong and Kyrgyzstan at 9th Asian Winter Games in Harbin, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, Feb. 10, 2025. (Xinhua/Xu Yanan)
Denis Popov (L) of Kyrgyzstan vies with Cheng Chung Pan Justin of China's Hong Kong during the ice hockey men's quarterfinals ranking match between China's Hong Kong and Kyrgyzstan at 9th Asian Winter Games in Harbin, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, Feb. 10, 2025. (Xinhua/Xu Yanan)
Alexander Titov (2nd R) of Kyrgyzstan celebrates scoring with teammates during the ice hockey men's quarterfinals ranking match between China's Hong Kong and Kyrgyzstan at 9th Asian Winter Games in Harbin, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, Feb. 10, 2025. (Xinhua/Jiang Han)
Players of China's Hong Kong celebrate scoring during the ice hockey men's quarterfinals ranking match between China's Hong Kong and Kyrgyzstan at 9th Asian Winter Games in Harbin, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, Feb. 10, 2025. (Xinhua/Sun Fei)
Players of Kyrgyzstan celebrate after winning the ice hockey men's quarterfinals ranking match between China's Hong Kong and Kyrgyzstan at 9th Asian Winter Games in Harbin, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, Feb. 10, 2025. (Xinhua/Xu Yanan)
Sultan Ismanov (L) of Kyrgyzstan vies with Mak Randolph Dash of China's Hong Kong during the ice hockey men's quarterfinals ranking match between China's Hong Kong and Kyrgyzstan at 9th Asian Winter Games in Harbin, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, Feb. 10, 2025. (Xinhua/Jiang Han)
