MK sport on February 12, 2025. Photo: Courtesy of Harbin 2025 organizers" src="https://www.globaltimes.cn/Portals/0/attachment/2025/2025-02-12/b7d83581-089d-4f22-9293-2a841d496d07.jpeg" />

Chinese athletes pose for photos after completing a clean sweep of medals at the ski mountaineering mixed relay final at the Harbin Asian Winter Games, on February 12, 2025. Photo: Courtesy of Harbin 2025 organizers

Dominating the mixed relay event, China pulled off a clean sweep of all podium positions in the ski mountaineering competitions at the Harbin Asian Winter Games on Wednesday in Northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, as the athletes set their sights on the Milan-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games.

Zhang Yaohua, the Chinese ski mountaineering team coach, told the Global Times after the mixed relay final on Wednesday that he was very happy that the athletes performed at the level they trained for and achieved the goal of gearing up for the 2026 Winter Olympics. 

"This is our first time participating in an international multi-sport event. Although the national team was only established in recent years, we have made rapid progress. There is still a gap between Chinese athletes and their strong European counterparts, but we have been catching up and the gap is getting smaller," said Zhang. 

Meanwhile, China also achieved a clean sweep of podium finishes in the women's freeski big air with Liu Mengting winning gold. This is Liu's second gold after her freeski slopestyle title on Tuesday.

In cross-country skiing, China's Li Lei, Chi Chunxue, Chen Lingshuang, and Dinigeer Yilamujiang triumphed in the women's 4x5km relay on Wednesday. China's Li Minglin, Cirenzhandui, Bao Lin, and Wang Qiang clinched the title in the men's 4x7.5km relay.

China's Liu Jianbin (right) competes in the ski mountaineering mixed relay final at the Harbin Asian Winter Games, on February 12, 2025. Photo: Courtesy of Harbin 2025 organizers

 
'Mutual learning'

Chinese pair Cidanyuzhen and Buluer won gold with a time of 27:48.67 minutes in the ski mountaineering mixed relay final on Wednesday as their teammates Yu Jingxuan/Bi Yuxin and Suolangquzhen/Liu Jianbin came second and third respectively. 

Earlier, China dominated the men's and women's sprint races as the sport made its debut at the Harbin Games. Ski mountaineering tests endurance, stamina, and power with steep climbs and rapid descents using specialized gear. 

"Before the Asian Winter Games, we trained in Italy for a year or so. Currently, we have entered the top 12 in the world in both individual and relay events. We hope to achieve good results at the Milan 2026 Winter Olympics," Zhang told the Global Times.

In the men's race, Buluer from the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region secured the gold in two minutes and 22.29 seconds while Cidanyuzhen from the Xizang Autonomous Region clinched the gold in the women's race, underscoring the host nation's strength in the sport. 

Buluer, 20, said that he hoped to obtain better results to attract more people to this less-known sport. 

"China enjoys some advantage in ski mountaineering in Asia. However, a gap still exists between China and other European powerhouses. We aim to compete with them at the Olympic Games. Currently, the sport is yet to be well known to all," he said.

Zhang Chenghao, who won silver in the men's race, highlighted the collective efforts of Asian athletes. 

"After finishing the final, I gave my Japanese counterpart a warm hug. Although we compete against each other in the competition, we have participated in many races and already become good friends. I believe the Asian Winter Games is a great platform for exchange and mutual learning. We can make collective efforts to break the European dominance in this sport by improving ourselves and transcending the impossible," he noted. 

Bigger talent pool

While established stars like Gu Ailing and Su Yiming were absent from the Harbin Games due to injuries, young athletes stepped up and showcased their abilities, proving the strength of China's snow sports talent pipeline.

At the Sapporo 2017 Asian Winter Games, only four out of the 12 gold medals won by the Chinese delegation were in snow sports. As of Wednesday, the Chinese team had won a total of 18 gold medals in snow sports at the Harbin Games.

Luo Le, a sports scholar at the Beijing University of Chemical Technology, told the Global Times on Wednesday that from competitive sports to mass fitness sports, the successful hosting of the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics has helped expand China's talent pool in winter sports and laid a solid foundation for preparations for the Milan 2026 Winter Olympics.

Liu Yu, a Beijing-based sports commentator, also highlighted the legacy of the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics. 

Over the last few years, China has significantly invested in snow sports, including building better training facilities and offering more opportunities for athletes to develop. This has led to a growing pool of skilled athletes in snow sports, which was evident at the Harbin Games, Liu said.

While bagging two golds at the Harbin Games, Cidanyuzhen, has shifted her focus to the Winter Olympics.

"It's my first time participating in the Asian Winter Games. I'm very excited and satisfied with my performance. During the competition, the key to success was to balance energy output and speed to perform each transition movement smoothly," she said. "I have been well-prepared to attend the 2026 Olympic Winter Games in Milan. I will make unremitting efforts to improve myself in such areas as speed, transition, and uphill movement."