Winter Olympics: China’s cross-country progress to ignite new generation of snow sports fans, team chief Zhang Bei says
- Former national rowing coach encouraged by the mainland’s cross-country hopefuls, with teen athletes Eileen Gu and Zhu Yi helping to stimulate interest
- ‘I am sure snow sports in China will develop well in the next 10 years,’ Zhang says, praising ‘good start’ to Norway partnership
Chinese national cross-country team manager Zhang Bei hopes their best-ever Winter Games outing will have a “profound impact” on the country’s future in the sport.
Though they are still far from podium contention, China’s 10th-placed finish in the women’s 4x5km relay is considered a serious achievement in the discipline which, like most, are dominated by Norway, Sweden and Russia.
China are fielding a record 11 athletes across cross-country events at the Zhangjiakou National Cross-Country Skiing Centre this month, and the young team’s progress has been promising.
Women’s 7.5km x7.5km skiathlon athletes Li Xin and Chi Chunxue secured the mainland’s best individual finishes so far, 33rd and 34th, while men’s skiers Liu Rongsheng and Shang Jincai broke into the top 50.
