Chinese student-athletes eye cultural exchanges, friendliness at Winter Universiade
ARTS / CULTURE & LEISURE
Chinese student-athletes eye cultural exchanges, friendliness at Winter Universiade
Published: Jan 14, 2025 10:46 PM
Chinese curling player Pei Junhang speaks to the press during the welcoming ceremony at FISU Games Village of Torino 2025 in Turin, Italy, Jan. 13, 2025. (Xinhua/Li Jing)

Chinese curling player Pei Junhang speaks to the press during the welcoming ceremony at FISU Games Village of Torino 2025 in Turin, Italy, Jan. 13, 2025. (Xinhua/Li Jing)


Chinese para student-athlete Pei Junhang and Liu Xiangqi bore the flag for China at the Winter Universiade in Turin, Italy, on Monday as the Chinese delegation kicked off their campaign at the FISU Winter World University Games that are set to last until January 23. 

Pei, captain of the Chinese women's curling team and a student at Beijing Sport University, has set her sights on leading her team to top glory. 

Pei earned the opportunity to represent China at the 2020 Winter Youth Olympics in Lausanne, Switzerland, where she won a bronze medal in the mixed doubles, fulfilling her dream of seeing the Chinese flag raised on the international stage.

One athlete who left a lasting impression on Pei was Chinese shooter Xie Yu, who won gold in the men's 10m air pistol at the Paris Olympics. 

"Xie's calmness under pressure and his ability to exceed expectations resonated with me. Curling, like shooting, demands composure under stress, and his story inspires me to strive for similar success," she said.

At this Universiade, Pei is determined to lift the national flag high during the opening ceremony and excel with her teammates on the curling rink. 

Off the ice, she has prepared panda-themed pins to exchange with other participants, a gesture to promote cultural exchange and showcase the friendliness of Chinese people.

Liu, an alpine skier and civil engineering student at North China University of Technology, rose to fame at the 2019 National Youth Winter Games after he won a gold medal in the men's giant slalom. 

Looking ahead to the Universiade, Liu aspires to achieve personal bests in alpine skiing while narrowing the gap between Chinese athletes and their Nordic counterparts. 

"My primary goal is to help set new benchmarks for China in this discipline while learning from world-class competitors," he said.

Born and raised in Beijing, Liu first skied in fifth grade. Captivated by the sport, he spent nearly every winter weekend on the slopes, apart from his senior year in high school.

Liu's skiing journey has also bolstered his academic performance. At North China University of Technology, Liu has pursued interests beyond civil engineering, delving into robotics and technology, earning accolades for his innovative projects.

Liu is also eager to engage in cultural exchanges with fellow student-athletes. 

"It's not just about skiing techniques; it's about understanding each other's cultures, lifestyles, and shared aspirations. I believe young people worldwide have much in common," he added.

The 84-member Chinese delegation includes 48 athletes from 13 Chinese universities who are set to compete in Alpine skiing, cross-country skiing, snowboarding, ski mountaineering, curling and short-track speed skating. 

Ski mountaineering, a new addition to the Turin Games, will also make its debut as an official medal event at the Milan 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy.

More than 2,600 athletes and officials from 70 countries and regions around the world will participate in the 11-sport Turin University Games.
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