Li Lei spearheads China's podium sweep in the women's sprint classic of cross-country skiing at the Harbin Asian Winter Games on Saturday, earning the host the 100th gold in tournament history.
HARBIN, Feb. 8 (Xinhua) -- Cross-country skier Li Lei clinched the women's sprint classic title at Yabuli here on Saturday, marking China's 100th gold medal in the history of Asian Winter Games.
China demonstrated its dominance in the event, with all four competitors advancing to the finals.
Veteran skier Li achieved victory with a time of three minutes and 25.25 seconds. Her teammate, Meng Honglian, secured the silver medal in 3:25.91, while another Chinese competitor, Dinigeer Yilamujiang, took home the bronze.
"I didn't expect all four of us to make it to the final. Everyone's hard work has paid off," Li said. "Winning gold medals in both women's and men's events today fills me with confidence about the future of cross-country skiing in China."
In the men's sprint classic event, China's Wang Qiang showcased his strength, finishing the final with a time of 2:56.19 to secure gold. His teammate Saimuhaer Sailike claimed the bronze, while Kazakhstan's Konstantin Bortsov took the silver. Japan's Haruki Yamashita crossed the finish line second but was later disqualified due to a violation.
"This is my first gold medal at the Asian Winter Games. The last time I participated in this event was eight years ago, and I'm thrilled to have this opportunity," Wang said.
Despite the competition featuring four rounds, the 31-year-old emphasized that age was not a hindrance.
"I have built up sufficient stamina during training, so my performance actually improved as the rounds progressed," he added.
The cross-country skiing events will continue on Sunday, featuring the women's 5km free. ■
