Chinese short-track speed skater Zhang Chutong (No.42) competes in the women's 1,000 meters heat on February 9. Photo: Li Hao/Global Times

Chinese short-track speed skaters Han Yutong, Qu Chunyu and Zhang Chutong qualified for the quarterfinals of the women's 1,000 meters Wednesday evening, in a night of fierce competition at the Capital Indoor Stadium that also saw the Chinese women's relay team safely through to Final A of the 3,000 meters. 

Han ranked second in Heat 2, finishing with a time of 1:27.401 and Qu went through in first place with a time of 1:30.342 in Heat 3. Zhang qualified after posting the fastest ­third-place finish in Heat 5 with a time of 1:27.910.

The Chinese short-track speed skating team came second out of four with a time of 4:04.383 in the semifinal of the women's 3,000 meters to qualify for Final A .

The Chinese relay team is formed of Han Yutong, Qu Chunyu, and Zhang Chutong, with alternates 28-year-old Fan Kexin and ­22-year-old Zhang Yuting, who will compete with the Netherlands, Canada and South Korea for the medals on Sunday evening.

All-round skater Zhang, at her first-ever Winter Olympics, placed fourth in the ­women's 500 meters on Monday. 

On Saturday, Zhang claimed China's first gold medal in the mixed team short-track speed skating relay final, along with four teammates.

However, her teammate Fan has experienced a turbulent Olympic history after being accused of foul play at the Pyeongchang 2018 Games, and accidentally stumbling in Sochi in 2014, missing out on both finals. 

Fan's debut for the national team started with a bang after she won gold as part of the women's 3,000 meters relay squad in 2010. Her long wait for an Olympic medal ended with a gold in the mixed team relay on Saturday. 

An emotional Fan told media after her first Olympic win that she had "waited for this Olympic gold medal for too long." 

"I always believe in team world ever since the day I became part of the national team."