Eight Shandong athletes are gearing up for the upcoming 9th Asian Winter Games. This marks the first time that Shandong athletes have participated in an event of this kind, and all eight of them are showing promise.

Shandong athletes Gong Li (left) and Li Wenlong engage in pre-competition training. [Photo/Dazhong News]

Li Wenlong, renowned Winter Olympics star, clinched victories in the men's 5000 meters relay at the Short Track Speed Skating World Cup in Seoul and the mixed relay at the 14th National Winter Games in recent years. In the upcoming short track speed skating event, he will team up with Gong Li.

Gong Li has emerged as a key player in China's women's short track speed skating team. At this year's Asian Winter Games, she is set to compete in the women's 1000m and 1500m individual events, while also being a crucial contender in the mixed relay and women's 3000m relay.

In the freestyle skiing women's halfpipe event, Shandong athlete Li Fanghui has a strong shot at taking home gold. She recently secured a silver medal in the women's halfpipe event at the Aspen stop of the Freestyle Skiing World Cup.

In the ski mountaineering event, the Chinese delegation comprises eight athletes, nearly half of whom are from Shandong. Liu Jianbin will compete in the men's short distance event, Yu Jingxuan in the women's short distance event, and Ji Lulu is expected to participate in the women's short distance and mixed relay events.

Li Minglin will take part in the cross-country skiing men's individual short distance (traditional technique) and men's 10km (free technique) events. Additionally, snowboarding athletes Liu Haoyu in men's slopestyle and big air have made it to the Asian Winter Games reserve list.

The 9th Asian Winter Games will kick off in Harbin on the night of Feb 7. As China's first major international multi-sport winter event since the Beijing Winter Olympics, the Chinese delegation of 170 athletes will compete in all events.