BEIJING: Over 3,700 athletes are set to compete in the 14th National Winter Games of China, opening in the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region this Saturday.
For many of China’s elite athletes, including Winter Olympic champions, participating in the national games feels more akin to a collective celebration aimed at mutual advancement in preparation for the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics.
Marking China’s premier national-level winter sports event following the Beijing Winter Olympics, the National Games will feature 176 events across eight sports. It serves as a crucial preparatory stage for athletes eyeing the 2026 Winter Olympics.
“All the events of the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics have been set up in the national games,” said Ding Tao, an official with the General Administration of Sport of China.
“The national winter games can be seen as a large-scale training before the 2026 Winter Olympics, to further enhance the international competitiveness of China’s winter sports,” Ding added.
Gold medals in disciplines such as ice hockey and speed skating (open) have been awarded ahead of the games’ opening ceremony. Inner Mongolia’s speed skater Han Mei, who did not secure a medal at the Beijing Winter Olympics, triumphed with three golds before her home audience.
“I have achieved my goal this time, and my biggest target is the 2026 Winter Olympics,” Han said. “We should dream big, and my next goal is to finish on the podium at the Olympic Games.”
Wu Yu from Liaoning also secured three gold medals in the men’s long-distance speed skating events.
Despite acknowledging the gap between China’s long-distance speed skating and the world’s elite, Wu is optimistic about shining at the 2026 Winter Olympics.
“My overall performance in the national team has improved, so I have higher expectations for myself,” Wu said.
The short track speed skating events are anticipated to attract numerous Winter Olympic champions.
“This is my first national winter games experience, and it feels like a small-scale Olympic Games,” said Olympic champion Liu Shaoang.
“I’m also very excited to face strong opponents. Fierce competition will help us make mutual progress, and the national games is a great opportunity for us to brace ourselves for the 2026 Winter Olympics,” Liu said.
“It’s a test for everyone, and a platform for healthy competition,” said Winter Olympic champion Fan Kexin. “We compete not only for gold medals, but for mutual progress, with the hope of competing in the 2026 Winter Olympics for our country.”
Tianjin’s Zhang Yuting, also an Olympic champion of short track speed skating, was eliminated in the preliminaries at the national games.
“I’m so sorry. I’m not in good condition partly because of injuries,” Zhang said of her not qualifying.
“But there are still two years ahead of the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics. I will do my best to prepare for it,” the 24-year-old said.
