The Latvian national hockey team had a 45-minute training session at noon in Beijing on Friday, which was the team’s second ice lesson after arriving in the Chinese capital. The Latvian state departed from Riga on Wednesday, after transferring to Helsinki, going to Beijing, where it arrived the next day.
“We are slowly entering the Olympic rhythm and getting used to the ice and atmosphere. Overflights and travel are not easy, but I played in the Continental Hockey League for ten years, so it can be said that I fly to the globe a couple of times a year. The guys have recovered and are ready to work,” said Darziņš.
Due to the epidemiological safety rules, it takes a lot of paperwork for everyone involved in the Olympics to get to Beijing. The games also run into a “bubble”, which means that athletes can only leave the Olympic Village when they go to training or matches.
“Everyone had a backpack full of documents, permits, QR codes, analytical results to get to China. These are insufficient obstacles to overcome. Of course I would like to enjoy and feel the Olympic atmosphere outside the village. In the center of Beijing I am was when we visited China with Riga “Dinamo”, “admitted Dārziņš.
Dārziņš and sleigh rider Elīza Tīruma will be the flagship of the Latvian delegation at the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games, which will start on Friday at 14:00 Latvian time.
“I am uplifted and inspired, I will try to enjoy this event as much as possible. I will not miss anything from the random work, because after the ice training and working in the gym, only recovery was planned,” said Darziņš.
The Latvian national team will open the Olympic Games tournament on February 10, when it will meet with Sweden, a day later it will compete with Finland, and on February 13 it will fight Slovakia. On Saturday and Monday, Latvians will have two test games.
“We hope that all teams will be able to display the optimal line-ups both in the tournament and in the test matches. has not participated in matches since December 30. “Personally, I know my body pretty well and feel when I need to do something more and when to relax. I’m sure I can prepare well.”
Tactical preparations are not made during the first ice training, because currently only 45 minutes are allowed for the teams.
“There is no time for tactical training, which is slower and more monotonous. Today, in these 45 minutes, we all wanted to have an intensive and powerful training, which was successful,” Darzins noted.
The Beijing Olympics will take place from February 4 to 20.
Composition of the Latvian national team for participation in the Beijing Olympic Games:
goalkeepers: Ivars Punnenovs (Langigavas “Tigers”, Switzerland), Jānis Kalniņš (Vēkšes “Lakers”, Sweden), Kristers Gudļevskis (Jēvles “Brynas IF”, Sweden);
defenders: Oskars Cibuļskis, Ralfs Freibergs, Kristaps Zīle, Patriks Ozols (all – Riga “Dinamo”), Jānis Jaks (“Sochi”, Russia), Uvis Jānis Balinskis (Litvinov “Verva”, Czech Republic), Nauris Sējējs (“La Chaux -de-Fonds “, Switzerland), Robert Mammitch (PSG Berani, Zlin, Czech Republic);
attackers: Lauris Darzins, Nikolay Yeliseev, Martins Karsums (both – Riga “Dinamo”), Miks Indrashis, Richard Bucharest (both – Vladivostok “Admiral, Russia”), Rodrigo Apple (“Orebro”, Sweden), Andris Jerins (Linz) Black Wings “, Austria), Oscar Batni (Mikeli” Jukurit “, Finland), Denis Smirnov (Geneva” Servette “, Switzerland), Renar Krastenberg (Villacher SV, Austria), Mārtiņš Dzierkals (Škoda, Pilsen, Czech Republic) , Kaspars Daugavins (“Bern”, Switzerland), Ronalds King (“Lausanne”, Switzerland).
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