(From left) Han Linshan, Yang Ruyi and Liu Mengting of China celebrate after the freestyle skiing women's slopestyle final at the 9th Asian Winter Games in Yabuli, Northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, on February 11, 2025. Photo: Chen Tao/GT

The Chinese winter sports athletes continued their fine form at the Harbin 2025 Asian Winter Games on Tuesday, solidifying its leading position on the medal table with 6 gold, 5 silver and 5 bronze medals.

Speed skaters dominated the last day of the competition with an impressive haul of 4 gold medals.

The Chinese speed skating team finished their Asian Games campaign with 8 golds, 4 silvers, and 5 bronzes. Ning Zhongyan claimed the gold medal in the men's 1,000m final, skating out a remarkable Games record-setting result of 1:08.81.

"I'm very satisfied with today's result. I achieved the goals I set for myself of winning three gold medals, breaking both the Games and venue records," Ning told reporters. 

"This is my first time participating in the Asian Winter Games. I also hope that our country can host more international competitions like this."

Previously, Ning had won gold in the men's 1,500 meters and the team pursuit events, setting a new Asian Winter Games record in the discipline with a time of 1:45.85.

He noted that the Asian Winter Games has made him more mature and focused during the competition.

"This competition has helped me improve my mind-set. I've matured a lot mentally, focusing more on enjoying the competition. There are still two more World Cups and one more championship ahead, so I need to prepare well for those events."

Female skater Han Mei also shone brightly, taking the gold in the women's 1,000m event with 1:15.85. Teammate Yin Qi finished in second place with a 0.23-second margin.

"This is probably the best performance the Chinese speed skating team has ever made, with athletes showcasing remarkable performances, including breaking the Asian record," Han said. 

But she insisted that there is no room for complacency.

"We must also stay humble and keep our focus on the World Cup and the Milan Olympics, because there are still many stronger competitors waiting for us."

The Chinese men's team consisting of Liu Hanbin, Wu Yu and Hanahati Muhamaiti, and the women's team of Yang Binyu, Ahenaer Adake and Han Mei also secured the golds in the team pursuit events.

In freestyle skiing, Feng Junxi and Wang Xue won the gold medal in the women's aerials synchro final. Teammate Xu Mengtao and Chen Meiting finished in second place.

"This may be the last Asian Winter Games in my life, and I'm deeply grateful for everyone's support, as well as the support from the freestyle skiing team," said Xu, a four-time Olympian. 

"At this year's Games, I achieved many breakthroughs, including my first Asian Winter Games gold medal and my first mixed team gold medal. I'm now the first athlete in China's snow sports to have won all the medals. I feel very fulfilled."

In the men's aerials synchro, Geng Hu and Yang Yuheng won the silver medal, while another Chinese pair, Qi Guangpu and Li Xinpeng, finished in third place.

In the women's slopestyle, skier Liu Mengting, who was the flag-bearer for the Chinese delegation at the opening ceremony of the Games with aforementioned skater Ning, claimed the gold medal with a run that won a score of 94.00. 

"I see it more as an honor. I hope my efforts can inspire more people to participate in winter sports and raise awareness about our events," 20-year-old Liu said of being the flag-bearer. "After winning this gold medal today, I feel like I've achieved that."

Teammate Yang Ruyi got the silver medal and Han Linshan took the bronze medal. 

"The main reason for our breakthrough this season is the resources the country has provided for us, allowing us to train at better venues abroad," Liu said. 

"I really want to stand on the podium at the Milan Winter Olympics. I'm well-prepared in all aspects and feel confident, so I'm really looking forward to it."

In the biathlon, Meng Fanqi took the silver medal and veteran Tang Jialin, a three-time Olympian, claimed the bronze in the women's 7.5-km sprint.

"The biathlon is improving its popularity in China," Tang told reporters. "In the past, we only had 15 athletes participating in competitions, but now we have around 50 to 60 athletes. Many regional teams are also starting to develop the sport, and I believe the talent pool is growing bigger."

Figure skating competitions at the Asian Winter Games also kicked off on Tuesday. 

In the ice dance rhythm dance competition, Ren Junfei and Xing Jianing performed to the music of Earth, Wind & Fire and scored 64.29 points to finish second.

Another Chinese pair, Xiao Zixi and He Linghao, ranked fourth with 62.64 points.

In the pairs short program, Wang Yuchen and Zhu Lei scored 52.05 points and ranked fifth. In the men's singles short program, Dai Dawei scored 82.89 points and ranked second, while Chen Yudong ranked fourth with 67.52 points.