China's delegation to the 9th Asian Winter Games in Harbin showcased an impressive performance, marking the nation's largest-ever participation and setting new medal records. Zhou Jinqiang, vice president of the Chinese Olympic Committee and head of the Chinese delegation, lauded the athletes for their outstanding achievements and highlighted significant advancements in China's winter sports development.
With 170 athletes competing in all 64 events across 11 disciplines and six sports, China secured a total of 85 medals, including 32 golds, 27 silvers, and 26 bronzes. This remarkable haul allowed the hosts to top both the gold and overall medal standings, surpassing previous records set by Kazakhstan at the 2011 Asian Winter Games.
\"The 32 gold medals match the record for the most golds in a single edition, previously set by Kazakhstan at the 2011 Asian Winter Games, while the total medal count of 85 surpassed Kazakhstan's previous record of 70 medals in a single edition,\" Zhou stated. He emphasized that this performance signifies a new trend in the balanced development of winter sports in China.
Zhou further explained, \"The 32 golds were distributed across four major sports and seven disciplines, with 13 golds in ice sports and 19 in snow sports. Notably, snow sports surpassed ice sports in gold medals for the first time, with speed skating, freestyle skiing, and ski mountaineering emerging as dominant forces in Asia.\" This shift highlights the comprehensive growth of China's winter sports sector following the successful bid for the Beijing Winter Olympics.
The Games also saw the rise of several young talents. Zhou highlighted athletes like Zhang Xiaonan, Xiong Shirei, Li Xinpeng, and Liu Mengting, who demonstrated remarkable courage and resilience, laying a strong foundation for their respective disciplines in China.
Despite the outstanding performance, Zhou emphasized the need for continued improvement as China prepares for the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympic Games next year. \"While China's performance at the Asian Winter Games was impressive, it still lags behind global standards in winter sports, with notable gaps in training, talent development, and the establishment of robust coaching and youth systems,\" he noted. Zhou concluded by urging China to address these gaps to achieve greater success on the global stage.
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China's delegation chief praises athletes at Asian Winter Games
cgtn.com
