China’s female team triumphs in cross-country skiing

By Zhao Xiao (chinadaily.com.cn)

Updated: 2017-01-24

On Jan 7, Chinese athlete Lin Xin won the title for the women’s 1.2-kilometer sprint freestyle ski in Xi Ujimqin, a tournament of the 2017 FIS Cross-Country Ski in China, during which China’s Man Dandan and Chi Chunxue took the second and fourth places.

Julia Jansson from Sweden took the third place during this tournament.

The 2017 International Ski Federation (FIS)—Cross-Country Skiing China Tournament was held in Xi Ujimqin Banner, Xilin Gol League from Jan 6 to 7, involving 80 athletes from 12 countries to compete on snow field.

From left: Man Dandan, Li Xin, Julia Jansson, Chi Chunxue, and the presenter of the awards –– pose at the awards ceremony of the women’s 1.2km sprint freestyle ski held in Xi Ujimqin Banner in Inner Mongolia on Jan 7. [Photo/Xinhua]

Li Xin, a 24-year-old female skier from Harbin in Heilongjiang province, won four gold medals during the National Winter Games held in Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region in January 2016.

During the 2017 China tournaments, Li won four championships including at Changbai Mountains on Jan 1, Xi Ujimqin Banner on Jan 6 and 7, and Yanqing in Beijing on Jan 9. Yet, she was absent for Vasaloppet in Changchun on Jan 4, a 50km challenge with the highest points among the six tournaments.

China’s Meng Honglian took second place at Changbai Mountains, fifth place at Vasaloppet in Changchun, third place at Xi Ujimqin, ranking above Julia Jansson from Sweden on the score board.

Born in 1998, Chi Chunxue from Jixi city in Heilongjiang province won silver medal in the women’s 5 km cross-country freestyle ski during the 2016 Lillehammer Winter Youth Olympics in February.

During the men’s 1.2km freestyle ski, Norwegians took the top three places. The first place was taken by Haakon Hjelstuen, proving his dominance over short distances after losing to Frenchman Samuel Rege Gianasso at the 5.8km long-distance ski on Jan 6. Hjelstuen also surely clinched the top on the men’s score board.

Norwegian skiers Didrik Fjeld Elset and Martin Hammer gained second and third places respectively. Baptiste Noel from France ranked fourth and was also awarded a prize.

The event was jointly sponsored by the International Ski Federation, China Ski Association, Inner Mongolia Sports Bureau, the people’s government of Xi Ujimuqin Banner and several sports companies.

The ski tournaments in China utilized six venues including Changbai Mountains in Jilin, Deer Valley in Changchun, Xi Ujimqin in Inner Mongolia and Yanqing in Beijing. Athletes from Austria, Chile, the Czech Republic, Germany, Venezuela, France, Italy, Finland, the United States, Norway, Sweden and China participated in the event.

International Ski Federation (FIS, short for Fédération Internationale de Ski) is the world's highest governing body for international winter sports. Founded in 1924, it is responsible for the Olympic disciplines of Alpine skiing, cross-country skiing, ski jumping, Nordic combined, freestyle skiing and snowboarding. The FIS is also responsible for setting the international competition rules. The organization now has a membership of 118 national ski associations and is based in Oberhofen am Thunersee, Switzerland.

Li Xin (left) and Man Dandan (right) compete during the women’s 1.2km race in Xi Ujimqin Banner, Xilin Gol League on Jan 7. [Photo/Xinhua]