China's Paralympic delegation has selected para Alpine skier Liu Sitong and para snowboarder Ji Lijia to carry the national flag at tomorrow's Winter Paralympics opening ceremony in Verona, marking a strategic choice blending experience and rising talent.
Veteran Leadership Meets New Excellence
Liu Sitong, 31, enters her third Winter Paralympics campaign with five Alpine events on her schedule. The athlete from the Chinese mainland earned four medals at Beijing 2022, including silver in the women's downhill sitting event. "Her consistency across disciplines makes her an ideal standard-bearer," stated a delegation spokesperson.
A Snowboarding Prodigy Rises
Twenty-three-year-old Ji Lijia represents China's new generation of winter sports stars. After dominating the 2025 World Championships with double gold, the SB-UL category athlete aims to upgrade his Beijing 2022 silver to gold in the banked slalom. His technical precision on steep courses has drawn comparisons to Olympic champions.
The ceremony precedes nine days of competition across four provinces in northern Italy, with China fielding its largest-ever Winter Paralympics team of 68 athletes.
