CHANGCHUN, Northeast China, Jan. 26 (Xinhua) -- The men's ice hockey team from the United Arab Emirates beat Thailand 4-0 in the opening game of the 6th Asian Winter Games here on Friday despite of the early injury of their best player.

    Juma Al Bhaheri, No.99 of UAE collided with Chartsuwan Tewin, No.5 of Thailand when the match was only played for one minute and 11 seconds. Juma was then stretchered out by medical personnel and sent to a hospital nearby.

    "This is a minor problem, not very serious, only a twist of parenchyma," said Salem Alneaimi, the attache of the NOC of UAE after Juma had gone though all the medical checks and was assured that no fractures happened. "This is a part of ice hockey. But you know, he is the best player in UAE and is a striker."

    Juma was taken out of the hospital by an emergency car after two hours from his arrival but almost set to miss the next match against the gold medal favorite Kazakhstan on the 27th.

    "He suffered the injury to the parenchyma in his left should, back and waist," said Liu Tianji, a doctor of the hospital's first-aid office, standing-by for any accidents happened in the Winter Asiad.

    Omar Alshamsi opened the victory for UAE at 18 minutes 42 seconds of the first set while Ali Al Sarour added the second at 13:54 of the second set. Mohamed Al Zaabi scored twice for the west Asian team in the third set.

    "Our players worked very hard and I am satisfied with the result," said Varyvonchyk Anatoli, UAE's head coach. "However, I feel really sorry that our best player was injured, and I hope he will be back soon."

    The Thailand players have been training together for just two months under the new coach Rolanti Michanel from the United States.

    "I think our players are too excited of being here," said Jason Cotsmire who has the longest experience of ice hockey in the team."Our target here is to enjoy the game and win a couple of them."

    The 11 men's ice-hockey teams competing here are divided into four groups. Kazakhstan is the other team of Group B besides UAE and Thailand.

    The 6th Asian Winter Games officially opens on Jan. 28th.