The first ice hockey open championship started in the ice arena of the capital’s Winter Sports Complex in Ashgabat. Participants of the championship are the children under 16 and of 2005-2008 year of birth. Eight teams during six months will fight for the medals in several stages in a circular system. The agenda of the hockey tournament opening ceremony included the performance of the skaters from the capital’s Sports School of the State Sports Committee. As a result of the two preliminary rounds, three teams assumed the leadership: «Shir», «Oguzkhan» and «Galkan», which, according to experts, will play out the whole set of awards.