China's women's ice hockey captain, Yu Baiwei, is set to lead her team at the upcoming ninth Asian Winter Games in her hometown of Harbin, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province. The 2025 Games, scheduled from February 7 to February 14, mark a significant moment for Yu as she returns to the ice on home soil.
In an exclusive interview with CGTN Sports Scene's Shen Xiang, Yu shared her aspirations for the continental competition. \"I think for me, personally, including my team, I just hope we can be in a better competitive state and show our skills at the Asian Winter Games,\" Yu said. \"I also hope that we can make a breakthrough at this edition of the Asian Winter Games, among all the competitions we have participated in before.\"
Growing up in Harbin, Yu expressed her excitement and pride in representing China in front of a home crowd. \"Well, I think first of all, it is an honor to be here at home,\" she added. \"As the host nation, there may be a lot of fans and a lot of family members watching us. For us, there will be some pressure, but I think this gives us greater motivation.\"
She reflected on the significance of competing in Harbin, the place where her journey in ice hockey began. \"Harbin is also the place where our dreams began, including many players on the team, because we have been training here since we were young. Now we are back here to play in the Asian Winter Games. I think it is like giving a satisfactory answer to the people of my hometown and all the people who pay attention to us, so I hope we can perform better in these games.\"
The Chinese women's ice hockey team aims to leverage the home advantage to achieve new heights in the sport. With Yu's leadership and the support of the local fans, the team is poised to make a strong impression at the Games.
The ninth Asian Winter Games will officially open on February 7 and conclude on February 14, 2025, bringing together athletes from across the continent to compete in various winter sports disciplines.
Reference(s):
China women's ice hockey captain Yu Baiwei set for Asian Winter Games
cgtn.com
