Shanxi shows winter sports strengths at 14th National Winter Games

The Shanxi delegation attends the opening ceremony of the 14th National Winter Games in Hulunbuir, North China's Inner Mongolia autonomous region, on Feb 17. [Photo/Shanxi Daily] 

The opening ceremony of the 14th National Winter Games took place in Hulunbuir, North China's Inner Mongolia autonomous region, on Feb 17, with the Shanxi athlete delegation attending.

Unlike previous sessions where cities were participating units, the 14th National Winter Games sees teams participating according to provinces, autonomous regions, and municipalities for the first time. This year is also the first time that Shanxi has attended the national winter games.

As a latecomer to winter sports, Shanxi established its ice and snow sports center in July 2019, initiating the development of winter sports, talent introduction and team formation. It has since achieved commendable results.

Huang Haihong, director of the Shanxi Ice and Snow Sports Center, stated that after more than four years of effort, Shanxi has established professional teams for snowboarding, alpine skiing, cross-country skiing, biathlon, and curling, with over 200 training athletes and eight professional coaches.

During the events of 14th National Winter Games, athletes Li Silin and Wen Xinyue, who were jointly trained by Shanxi and Heilongjiang provinces, won a gold medal in the mixed doubles curling (youth group) on Jan 12. Subsequently, in the alpine skiing events, athletes from Shanxi's delegation won eight gold medals. On Feb 17, in the women's snowboard halfpipe event, 12-year-old Zhou Yizhu finished fifth.