Han Mei poses for a photo after winning a gold medal in the women's 1500m speed skating competition at the 9th Asian Winter Games. [Photo/IC]

Inner Mongolian athlete Han Mei won gold in the women's 1500m speed skating competition on Feb 8 at the 9th Asian Winter Games, with a time of 1:57.58, securing China's eighth gold medal.

The 9th Asian Winter Games is underway in Harbin, Northeast China's Heilongjiang province.

The Chinese team dominated the competition, with Yang Binyu and Yin Qi claiming silver and bronze, respectively.

Han said to reporters after the race, "Seeing three national flags rise simultaneously made me feel incredibly proud. The three of us are from different age groups, which shows that Chinese women's speed skating is continuously developing without interruption."

Han Mei in the women's 1500m speed skating competition at the 9th Asian Winter Games. [Photo/IC]

In recent years, Han has made significant progress in technique and mindset. Her versatility has earned her the reputation of being an all-round competitor. Since the Beijing Winter Olympics, she has frequently competed in multiple events, solidifying her status as a "hexagonal warrior" – a term that describes athletes excelling in all aspects of competition.

At this year's Asian Winter Games, Han is also set to compete in the women's 1000m, 3000m, short-distance team pursuit, and team pursuit events.

"Although participating in so many events can sometimes be exhausting, it reflects the trust everyone has in me, which serves as powerful motivation", she said.

Chinese athletes win all three medals in the women's 1500m speed skating competition. [Photo/IC]