Kyrgyzstan has been part of the U20 World Championship circuit since 2022, when it made its debut in Division 3 – back when the group had not yet been split into 3A and 3B. For Hong Kong and Iran, however, the 2026 tournament marked a historic first. Building and entering a U20 squad into the IIHF system represents a major milestone in the development of both national hockey programs.
How the Cards Were Dealt
Following the expansion of the U20 World Championship program and the split of Division 3 into two groups, Kyrgyzstan initially found itself in Division 3A. That stay was short‑lived, however, as relegation followed in 2024.
After missing out on promotion in Bangkok last year, edged out by a highly motivated Thailand side, the hosts came into the 2026 tournament in Bishkek with a clear objective on home ice: get back up a division.
That task was anything but straightforward. Mexico loomed as the primary roadblock. The North American representative brings a relatively long U20 pedigree to the table, having debuted in the program back in 1997. At the same time, the Mexicans arrived in Bishkek at a historical low point and eager to spark a turnaround.
Rounding out the trio of pre‑tournament contenders was Hong Kong – a debutant, but one whose underlying quality had not gone unnoticed heading into the event.
Kyrgyzstan’s U20 Squad: Built at Home, Shaped Abroad
Kyrgyzstan is coached by 40-year-old Russian Alexei Khakalo, who brings solid experience from Russia’s youth hockey system. When assembling the roster, he leaned heavily on two Bishkek-based teams – Uchur and Alga – which together provided nearly half the squad. Both clubs compete in the Open Championship of Uzbekistan, a cross-border league that also features three Uzbek teams. Among them is Humo Tashkent, which withdrew from Kazakhstan’s Pro Hokei Ligasy ahead of this season.
Nine other players are currently developing within Russian youth structures. Beren Dubanaev, 16, is currently competing at the highest level among them, with 10 games under his belt in Russia’s U18 top tier.
The roster also includes one US-based player – Umar Esenov, another 16-year-old forward playing at the 16U AAA level.
Hong Kong’s U20 Debut Comes With Firepower
Hong Kong came into the tournament looking to shake up the promotion picture. While this was the country’s first appearance at the U20 level, it’s been competing in the U18 World Championship program since 2014 – and over the years, it has built a solid foundation.
The team, led by Canadian coach Mike Beharrell, leaned heavily on young players from the top-tier Hong Kong League. Among them, Ryan Wong stood out – already one of the league’s top scorers, currently sitting inside the top 10 in goals.
The roster was further bolstered by a handful of promising prospects playing abroad in leagues like the OJHL, NCDC, GMHL, and CCHL, including team captain Randy Mak.
Iran’s Youthful First Step on the International Ice
For Iran, this marked a historic first – their debut in men’s youth categories at the international level, both U20 and U18. Expectations were understandably modest, but in a country facing significant internal challenges, there was pride in simply fielding a homegrown squad built through domestic youth leagues.
The team is led by 28-year-old head coach Arman Bahriyekta, who is still an active player himself. He brought to Bishkek the second-youngest roster in the tournament, with an average age just shy of 17 – but physically, the Iranians ranked among the most imposing teams in the field.
Despite their youth, many Iranian players already had solid experience in the country’s senior league. One example is 19-year-old forward Parsa Jalali of N.Z.A., who’s been playing at the men’s level since age 15 and has racked up an impressive 70 points in 61 games. He was expected to be coach Bahriyekta’s biggest offensive weapon.
Crowds Show Up Big for Kyrgyz Hockey’s Bright Future
The tournament took place at Gorodskoi Katok, also known more simply as Bishkek Arena. The venue held around 2,000 spectators during the event, and the stands were steadily filled – especially for games featuring the host nation.
Impressively, the support extended beyond Kyrgyzstan’s matches. One standout example was a crowd of 620 fans turning up for a game between Iran and Luxembourg – a remarkable figure considering this was the lowest division of the U20 World Championship.
Day 1: Iran Makes History, Kyrgyzstan Sets the Tone
Among the Asian squads, Iran was the first to hit the ice, making its long-awaited debut at the U20 level. Despite putting up a spirited effort, the newcomers couldn’t keep pace with their European opponents and fell 2–9 to Luxembourg. Still, there was a silver lining: Amir Mahmoud Zanjani etched his name in the record books by scoring Iran’s first-ever goal at the U20 World Championship.
In the day’s headline matchup, host nation Kyrgyzstan faced off against Hong Kong in what many considered a crucial battle in the promotion race. With ten minutes remaining, the game was still tied – but that’s when two Russia-based players stepped up. Alikhan Ali-Askarov and, especially, Umar Egemberdiev, who netted a hat trick, took matters into their own hands and secured a vital 4–1 victory for the home team.
Day 2: Hong Kong Rolls, Kyrgyzstan Stays Perfect
Day two of competition featured a clash between two Asian debutants as Hong Kong faced off against Iran. The favored Hong Kong side made quick work of the matchup, cruising to a dominant 12–1 victory. Leading the offensive outburst were Randy Mak, Yaotian Pang, and Luther Daly – each putting up a four-point performance.
Kyrgyzstan, meanwhile, kept its foot on the gas with a convincing 7–2 win over South Africa. The dynamic duo of Umar Egemberdiev and Alikhan Ali-Askarov continued to shine, while offensive-minded defenseman Yegor Leshchenko joined the party with a standout performance.
Day 3: Hong Kong Stuns Mexico Early, Kyrgyzstan Hits Cruise Control
Day three brought a major test for Hong Kong, as they squared off against Mexico – a team recently relegated from a higher division. The Asian side came out flying, jumping to a 4–0 lead powered by a three-point performance from Ryan Wong. Mexico didn’t go down quietly and managed to claw back into the game, but Hong Kong held firm to secure a 5–3 victory.
Kyrgyzstan made quick work of Iran in a one-sided affair, steamrolling to a 15–1 win. Iran’s lone goal came with just 30 seconds left on the clock. The night once again belonged to Alikhan Ali-Askarov (4+5) and Umar Egemberdiev (3+3), who continued their points race at the top of the tournament leaderboard. They were joined by Umar Esenov, who broke out with 2 goals and 5 assists.
Day 4: Hong Kong Dominates, Iran Shows Fight, Kyrgyzstan One Step Away
Day four opened with Hong Kong cruising past South Africa in an 8–1 win, highlighted by a hat trick from Tsan Lam Wang.
Later in the day, Iran put together perhaps its most composed performance of the tournament, despite falling 1–7 to Mexico.
In the final matchup, Kyrgyzstan took a big step toward promotion with a solid 5–2 victory over Luxembourg, tightening their grip on the top spot.
Day 5: Kyrgyzstan Seals Promotion in Front of a Packed House
On the final day, Hong Kong wrapped up a strong tournament with a 5–2 win over Luxembourg, securing second place in the standings. Tsan Lam Wang stayed hot, recording his second straight hat trick to cap off an impressive campaign.
Iran, still chasing its first point, put up a fight against South Africa but came up short once again, losing 1–4. Despite finishing the tournament winless, the young Iranian squad walks away with a valuable haul of experience.
The final game of the tournament – Kyrgyzstan vs. Mexico – delivered exactly the drama it promised. With a raucous home crowd of 2,000 fans packed into Bishkek Arena, the stakes were clear: Mexico needed to win by three to leapfrog into the promotion spot. But the hosts had no intention of letting that happen.
Fueled by a roaring crowd and big-game performances from their stars, Kyrgyzstan took control early with goals from Umar Egemberdiev, Alikhan Ali-Askarov, and Yegor Leshchenko, jumping out to a 3–1 lead.
The rest of the night was a masterclass in game management. Each time Mexico threatened to close the gap, the Kyrgyz squad answered immediately. Once again, the team’s leading duo delivered – Ali-Askarov and Egemberdiev each finished with five-point nights, sending Kyrgyzstan to Division 3A in style.
The home team delivered on its mission, taking a major step forward in the development of Kyrgyz hockey. With the youngest roster in the tournament – averaging just 16.60 years of age – and consistently strong fan support in the stands, this campaign sent a clear message: the future of hockey in Kyrgyzstan looks bright.
Ali-Askarov and Egemberdiev Lead the Way as Kyrgyz Stars Dominate Scoring Charts
It came as no surprise that the tournament’s scoring charts were topped by Kyrgyzstan’s homegrown talent. Leading the offensive charge were Alikhan Ali-Askarov (10+10) and Umar Egemberdiev (10+7), who combined for 37 points despite being just 16 and 15 years old. Both players have developed within the Russian hockey system and were simply dominant from start to finish.
They received strong support from offensive defenseman Yegor Leshchenko (5+6) and US-based forward Umar Esenov (2+9). The top four scorers all wore the Kyrgyz jersey, with Hong Kong’s Ryan Wong (3+7) rounding out the leaderboard in fifth.
Ali-Askarov and Leshchenko were also recognized individually, earning honors as the tournament’s Best Forward and Best Defenseman. The Best Goaltender award went to Santiago Cucuraqui of Mexico.
Statistically, though, the most efficient netminder was Michael X. Y. Kam Gan, the 17-year-old from Hong Kong, who had already seen senior-level action at the 2025 Asian Winter Games.
| 2026 IIHF U20 World Championship Division 3B Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan – Standings |
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| # | Team | GP | W | OTW | OTL | L | GF-GA | P |
| 1 | Kyrgyzstan | 5 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 38-10 | 15 |
| 2 | Hong Kong | 5 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 31-11 | 12 |
| 3 | Mexico | 5 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 18-15 | 9 |
| 4 | Luxembourg | 5 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 21-15 | 6 |
| 5 | South Africa | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 9-25 | 3 |
| 6 | Iran | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 6-47 | 0 |
| 2026 IIHF U20 World Championship Division 3B Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan – Results |
||
|---|---|---|
| Game | Result | Date |
| Kyrgyzstan vs Hong Kong | 4-1 | 01/18 |
| Kyrgyzstan vs South Africa | 7-2 | 01/19 |
| Kyrgyzstan vs Iran | 15-1 | 01/21 |
| Kyrgyzstan vs Luxembourg | 5-2 | 01/22 |
| Kyrgyzstan vs Mexico | 7-4 | 01/24 |
| Hong Kong vs Kyrgyzstan | 1-4 | 01/18 |
| Hong Kong vs Iran | 12-1 | 01/19 |
| Hong Kong vs Mexico | 5-3 | 01/21 |
| Hong Kong vs South Africa | 8-1 | 01/22 |
| Hong Kong vs Luxembourg | 5-2 | 01/24 |
| Iran vs Luxembourg | 2-9 | 01/18 |
| Iran vs Hong Kong | 1-12 | 01/19 |
| Iran vs Kyrgyzstan | 1-15 | 01/21 |
| Iran vs Mexico | 1-7 | 01/22 |
| Iran vs South Africa | 1-4 | 01/24 |
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