Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — From 28 February to 6 March, 2025, Uzbekistan’s U18 junior ice hockey team will make its debut at the U18 World Championship, competing in Division III B, the seventh tier of the tournament. The championship will take place in Bangkok, Thailand.

Previously, the team, composed of players from Uzbekistan’s hockey academies, won the U18 Asia and Oceania Cup twice, remaining undefeated in both tournaments. These victories came in March 2023 in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, and in April 2024, when the tournament was held in Tashkent and Samarkand, Uzbekistan.

At their first-ever World Championship, Uzbekistan’s juniors will face teams from South Africa, Luxembourg, Turkmenistan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and the host nation, Thailand.

Match Schedule:

On 28 February, 14:30 — Uzbekistan vs. South Africa

On 1 March, 14:30 — Luxembourg vs. Uzbekistan

On 3 March, 14:30 — Turkmenistan vs. Uzbekistan

On 4 March, 11:00 — Uzbekistan vs. Bosnia and Herzegovina

On 6 March, 18:00 — Thailand vs. Uzbekistan

Notably, the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) has scheduled the final game of the tournament between Thailand and Uzbekistan, indicating that these two teams are considered the top contenders for victory.

The South African team is viewed as the tournament’s underdog, while Luxembourg did not participate in last year’s competition. The remaining three teams are expected to pose a serious challenge for Uzbekistan.