Chinese athletes continued their golden streak on the second day of the ninth Asian Winter Games in Harbin, Heilongjiang Province, capturing seven gold medals across a variety of events on Sunday.
Freestyle Skiing Triumphs
Reigning Olympic freestyle skiing champion Xu Mengtao soared to victory in the women’s aerials final. Having previously claimed silver 18 years ago at the sixth Asian Winter Games in Changchun, Xu clinched the top spot with a triumphant score of 90.94 points. Fellow Chinese athlete Chen Xuezheng secured the silver medal, while Kazakhstan’s Ayana Zholdas took home the bronze.
In the men’s aerials, Chinese skiers dominated the podium. Li Xinpeng showcased exceptional skill to grab the gold with 123.45 points, edging out teammate Yang Longxiao, who claimed silver. Qi Guangpu, the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics champion, secured the bronze medal.
Cross-Country and Ski Mountaineering Success
China also swept the top four positions in the women’s five-kilometer cross-country skiing freestyle final. Bayani Jialin clinched the gold medal with a time of 12 minutes and 7.5 seconds. Dinigeer Yilamujiang took silver, Chi Chunxue earned bronze, and Chen Lingshuang finished in fourth place.
In ski mountaineering events, China continued its winning ways. Cidanyuzhen delivered a powerful performance to secure gold in the women’s sprint, with compatriots Yu Jingxuan and Suolangquzhen completing the all-China podium. On the men’s side, Buluer claimed the gold medal, followed by Zhang Chenghao with silver and Bi Yuxin with bronze.
Short Track Skating Highlights
On the ice, China’s short track speed skaters maintained their impressive form. In the women’s 3,000-meter relay, Olympic champion Fan Kexin led the team of Gong Li, Zhang Chutong, and Wang Xinran to victory. Facing tough competition, the quartet delivered an outstanding performance, clinching the gold in a time of 4 minutes, 11.371 seconds. Kazakhstan followed in second place, while Japan rounded out the podium.
In the women’s 1,000-meter race, Zhang Chutong secured a bronze medal for China. South Korea’s Choi Min-jeong took gold, with teammate Kim Gil-li earning silver. In the men’s 1,000-meter event, China’s Liu Shaoang also earned a bronze medal, as South Korea’s Jang Sung-woo and Park Ji-won claimed gold and silver, respectively.
The day concluded with a dramatic men’s 5,000-meter relay. After a collision in the final moments, China finished with the bronze medal. Kazakhstan emerged victorious, with Japan taking silver.
China’s Golden Momentum
With a total of seven gold medals on the day, China’s athletes showcased their strength and depth across multiple disciplines, thrilling the home crowd and solidifying their position at the top of the medal standings.
