The heat is on

After completing the first four stops on the 2024-25 Short-Track World Tour, the Chinese squad — bolstered by men's Olympic gold medalists Liu Shaoang and Lin Xiaojun, and women's veteran Fan Kexin — has recovered physically and mentally from the demanding races on the ISU circuit, and is primed to help get the entire host delegation off to a scintillating start in Harbin.

According to the latest schedule, the first gold medal to be awarded at the Games is expected to be either in the short-track speed skating 2,000m mixed relay in Harbin, or in the women's freestyle skiing halfpipe in Yabuli on the morning of Feb 8.

"For short-track speed skating, the Asian Winter Games already represent the highest-level of international competition, even without other strong teams from Europe and North America," said head coach Zhang Jing, who, over the past two months, has led China's short-track squad to collect 10 medals, including three golds, from the first four legs of this season's World Tour.

"We will treat it as seriously as we should, and try to achieve the best possible results as a crucial test prior to the 2026 Winter Olympics."

Stealing the show from the skaters, should she keep her promise, will be freeski superstar Gu Ailing. She openly expressed her desire, following last month's World Cup event in China, to make time in her busy schedule of academic study and international competitions to make her Asian Winter Games debut on home snow.

"For sure, I will continue to compete at a series of international events and hope to see you all in February in Harbin," Gu said last month after winning the 2024-25 World Cup season's second halfpipe event, and her 16th career title on the elite circuit, in Chongli, Hebei province.