China is aiming for a Winter Olympic gold medal in snow sports for the first time, officials said yesterday, as the Chinese Winter Olympic delegation for the upcoming Turin Games was set up.

"The Chinese winter sports athletes will strive for gold medals in the freestyle skiing aerials, short track speed skating, speed skating short distance events and figure skating," said Xiao Tian, vice director of the State General Administration of Sports.

"We hope to achieve better results than at the last Games in Salt Lake City, where China won its first ever Winter Olympic gold medal by Yang Yang on the short track."

At the last Winter Olympics, China pocketed two gold medals and a silver from the short track speed skating, and a bronze medal for figure skating. This time, it is eyeing a breakthrough in snow sports.

"We hope to achieve better results in snow events, especially in free style skiing aerials and biathlon," said Xiao. "It will also be the first time we send more athletes in snow events than on ice."

Led by the aerials world champion Li Nina and the 1998 winter Olympic silver medallist Xu Nannan, the women's team undoubtedly shoulders the responsibility of the medal task.

Since both of the other two young skiers Guo Xinxin and Zhang Xin have stepped on the podium at the World Cup series, the team is ready to make history.

In its eighth Winter Olympic Games since first appearing at the 1980 Lake Placid Winter Olympics, China, the coming summer Olympic powerhouse, has sent out its largest delegation for the Turin Games, which will run from February 10 to 16.

According to officials, 76 Chinese winter athletes will participate in 47 events from nine disciplines of three sports at Turin. They will join the competitions in ski jumping and snowboard for the first time.

"The average age of the athlete is 23.05," introduced by Duan Shijie, another deputy chief-de-mission of the delegation. "63 per cent of the athlete will experience their first Olympics."

Teams are ready

Aside from the rising snow sports, teams from traditionally strong events such as the short track speed skating and figure skating are also full of confidence.

"Of course I'm 100 per cent confident," said Yang, China's Olympic hero, who will compete in her third Olympics. "I'm looking forward to all the experience that the Olympics give me. I will enjoy it."

Together with Yang, Wang Meng, who dominated the women's 500m races in the World Cup series this season, will skate for the gold in her Olympic debut as well.

The short track skating team won't compete on the skating track alone this time, since the speed skating team, headed by the 32-year-old veteran skater Wang Manli, will also hold a golden hope for China.

"The Olympic medal is my ultimate goal," said Wang, who is the oldest athlete in the delegation. "Waiting for the Olympics, I'm in my best form now."

To further add to the confidence of the delegation is the pairs' figure skater Zhao Hongbo.

After breaking his Achilles tendon last August, Zhao, the two-time world champion, just finished the double jumps on Monday, which was great news for the figure skating team.

Zhao and partner Shen Xue, who impressed the world with their remarkable performance in the World Championships and Grand Prix, were the biggest gold medal hope for China, until Zhao's shocking injury.

"Even without Shen and Zhao, our figure skating team is strong enough to strive for the gold," said Xiao. "Since Zhao is recovering faster than the expectation, they will have bigger chances."

(China Daily January 19, 2006)