First gold medal emerges in 14th National Winter Games' Ulaanqab venue

Athletes compete skills at the Cross-Country Skiing Open Group Competition of the 14th National Winter Games at the Liangcheng Ski Resort in Ulaanqab city. [Photo/Inner Mongolia Daily]

At 9 am on Feb 14, the Cross-Country Skiing Open Group Competition of the 14th National Winter Games commenced with a gunshot at the Liangcheng Ski Resort in Ulaanqab city, marking the official start of the competition in the Games' Ulaanqab venue.

A total of 383 athletes from 26 representative teams across the country will compete for 38 gold medals in four sub-events, including a cross-country skiing double pursuit, a snowboarding obstacle pursuit, a freestyle skiing obstacle pursuit and a biathlon.

On the same day, in the women's double pursuit event, Chi Chunxue from the Heilongjiang team crossed the finish line in 41 min and 26 sec, claiming the gold medal. This also marks the first gold medal awarded in the Ulaanqab venue at the 14th National Winter Games.

An athlete at the Cross-Country Skiing Open Group Competition of the 14th National Winter Games. [Photo/Inner Mongolia Daily]

The term "double pursuit" in cross-country skiing does not signify a "two-person" race, but rather refers to two distinct skiing techniques: traditional and freestyle. These two techniques differ in terms of movements, equipment and course layout.

The women's double pursuit event covers a total distance of 15 km, divided into a 7.5-km traditional technique skiing segment and a 7.5-km freestyle skiing segment.

In the men's double pursuit event, namely the 15-km traditional technique and 15-km freestyle technique, Wang Qiang secured the gold medal, Liu Rongsheng claimed silver, and Shang Jincai took home the bronze.

An athlete at the Cross-Country Skiing Open Group Competition of the 14th National Winter Games. [Photo/Inner Mongolia Daily]