Russia's prime minister, Vladimir Putin, moved to beef up his macho man image on Wednesday by pledging he would learn to skate well enough to play ice-hockey.
The judo black belt was speaking from his native St. Petersburg during a video link-up with Russian under-20 athletes in Kazan.
"I will learn to skate and come to see you," Putin told an ice hockey player.
Kazan will host the 2013 Summer Universiade.
ST. PETERSBURG, February 9 (RIA Novosti)
