10 athletes from Inner Mongolia qualify for 14th National Winter Games' speed skating open finals
As the 2023-2024 China Cup Speed Skating Elite League (Changchun Station) and the 14th National Winter Games 4th Qualifiers wrapped up in Jilin province, 10 athletes from the Inner Mongolia Speed Skating Team secured their spots in the finals of the 14th National Winter Games' speed skating open competitions.
The Inner Mongolian athletes performed exceptionally well in all four rounds, winning a total of six gold, two silver, and nine bronze medals.
"The athletes' performances in the four qualifying races have met our expectations and showcased their training levels," said Liu Xin, team leader of the Inner Mongolia Speed Skating Team.
"The number of athletes qualifying for the finals in the youth group has yet to be determined, but we estimate it will be around 10 individuals."
Having completed the final qualifying race, the Inner Mongolia Speed Skating Team will next head to Xinjiang for high-altitude training.
The team is seen as having a good chance of winning gold in the women's 3,000m and 5,000m events in the open category at the Winter Games, while victory in the women's 1,500m is considered more of a long shot but by no means unattainable.