The International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF), meeting in Slovakia, has awarded hosting rights for world championship events for the next six years. 

Among the winners was the northern Chinese city of Tianjin which will stage the 2020 Men's Under-18 Division 2 Group B finals next March.

The vote in the Slovakian capital of Bratislava, which is currently hosting the elite division's world championship, saw Tianjin defeat Croatia's capital Zagreb 15-9. 

Given that Beijing was the venue for the Women's Division 1 Group B event last month, next year's tournament offers China yet another opportunity to boost its build-up for the 2022 Winter Olympics. 

At this year's Under-18 men's finals in Serbia, the Chinese won four out of five games to finish as runners-up, their best result ever, and a positive omen as officials look to the future.

Reacting to Tianjin's victory, Si Liang, the deputy secretary-general of the Chinese Ice Hockey Association, said, “Holding an international event in Tianjin will boost the development of ice hockey in the Beijing, Tianjin, and Hebei Province region. This will be also good preparation for organizing talent ahead of the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics.”