Speed skater Ning Zhongyan and freestyle skier Liu Mengting were announced on Wednesday as the Chinese delegation's flagbearers for the opening ceremony of the ninth Asian Winter Games in Harbin, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province.
Ning Zhongyan has made history multiple times in recent years. In December 2019, he became the first Chinese speed skater to win the men's 1,500-meter gold medal at the International Skating Union (ISU) Speed Skating World Cup, breaking the track record in Astana, Kazakhstan. Two years later, Ning made headlines again by becoming the first Chinese men's 1,000-meter champion in any international competition, securing the title at the ISU World Cup in Calgary, Canada.
Liu Mengting has also achieved significant milestones. In March 2024, she reached the podium at the International Ski and Snowboard Federation (FIS) Freestyle Ski World Cup by winning the women's big air silver medal in Tignes, France. Following this, in January, she claimed the gold medal in the same event at the World Cup in Klagenfurt, Austria.
The opening ceremony of the Asian Winter Games is scheduled to take place on Friday, marking the commencement of a highly anticipated event in the region.
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Flagbearers announced for China at Asian Winter Games opening ceremony
cgtn.com
