China eyes gold in four events in Turin

China is aiming for a Winter Olympic gold medal in snow sports for the first time, officials said yesterday, as the Chinese Winter Olympic delegation for the upcoming Turin Games was set up.

"The Chinese winter sports athletes will strive for gold medals in thefreestyle skiing aerials, short track speed skating, speed skating short distance eventsandfigure skating," said Xiao Tian, vice director of the State General Administration of Sports.

"We hope to achieve better results than at the last Games in Salt Lake City, where China won its first ever Winter Olympic gold medal by Yang Yang on the short track."

At the last Winter Olympics, China pocketed two gold medals and a silver from the short track speed skating, and a bronze medal for figure skating. This time, it is eyeing a breakthrough in snow sports.

"We hope to achieve better results in snow events, especially in free style skiing aerials and biathlon," said Xiao. "It will also be the first time we send more athletes in snow events than on ice."

Led by the aerials world champion Li Nina and the 1998 winter Olympic silver medallist Xu Nannan, the women's team undoubtedly shoulders the responsibility of the medal task.

Since both of the other two young skiers Guo Xinxin and Zhang Xin have stepped on the podium at the World Cup series, the team is ready to make history.

In its eighth Winter Olympic Games since first appearing at the 1980 Lake Placid Winter Olympics, China, the coming summer Olympic powerhouse, has sent out its largest delegation for the Turin Games, which will run from February 10 to 16.