Lin Xiaojun is determined to return to winning ways on home ice at this week's World Cup event in Beijing after taking a long break from competition to get back to full strength. (AN LINGJUN / FOR CHINA DAILY)
With refreshed veterans and upstart youngsters all raring to go, China's short-track speed skating team has vowed to maintain a scintillating pace on home ice as the World Cup series hits town.
After taking a monthlong break after the first two events in Canada, the International Skating Union's World Cup season resumes this week with a highly anticipated Beijing leg at the Capital Indoor Stadium, where the host squad hopes to build on its Olympic success at the 2022 Games venue.
The appearances of two-time Olympic champion Ren Ziwei and women's veteran Fan Kexin at a training session on Monday have fueled expectations for Team China to put on a more balanced performance on home ice, after it claimed four gold medals, including three from relay events, from the series' opening two legs in Montreal in October.
The return of Ren and Fan, key members of China's gold-winning team in the 2,000m mixed relay at Beijing 2022, bolsters the depth of a roster that already boasts plenty of established stars, spearheaded by Hungarian-born brothers Sandor Liu Shaolin and Liu Shaoang, as well as Lin Xiaojun, who formerly represented South Korea.
The return of two-time Olympic champion Ren Ziwei and women's veteran Fan Kexin, key members of China's gold-winning team in the 2,000m mixed relay at Beijing 2022, bolsters the depth of a roster that already boasts plenty of established stars, spearheaded by Hungarian-born brothers Sandor Liu Shaolin and Liu Shaoang, as well as Lin Xiaojun, who formerly represented South Korea
Head coach Zhang Jing, though, insists that it's too soon for the new-look roster to reach full speed, given the lack of chemistry within a group that is still in the process of gelling.
"We've built a little bit of an advantage in relays after the first two World Cup events, but we are just competing together in our first season, with some veterans only joining this week. We are still not at full strength collectively," said Zhang, who took the Team China reins in summer last year after completing a 10-year stint with the Hungarian national program.
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The Liu brothers, Zhang's longtime proteges on the Hungarian squad, have emerged as Team China's new leaders since they switched allegiance last year to represent their father's home nation, largely due to the trust they have established with Zhang.
Teaming up with Lin and youngsters such as Sun Long, Gong Li and Zang Yize, the brothers helped China snatch back-to-back 2,000m mixed relay titles in the first two World Cup meets, as well as gold in the men's 5,000m relay in the second leg.
Despite taking a mandatory 12-month international break with his older brother to complete the national team switch, Liu Shaoang, the reigning 500m Olympic champion, proved he's as sharp as ever by winning the sprint final in the second leg in Montreal.
The four-title early-season haul has already matched Team China's gold count from last season's World Cup campaign, boding well for the team's bid to beat its four-medal Beijing 2022 total at the 2026 Winter Olympics.
Olympic champion Ren Ziwei makes his highly anticipated return to international competition at this week's Beijing leg of the ISU World Cup series. (AN LINGJUN / FOR CHINA DAILY)
Zhang, however, is guarding against complacency and wants to see more consistency from the squad.
"We need to consolidate our strength in relays and men's sprint events while pushing harder to catch up with the world's best in more distance events, especially on the women's side," said Zhang.
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"The world of short-track speed skating has changed dramatically in recent years, with many countries improving rapidly and the competitions getting closer and more unpredictable.
"We need to keep up by racing against the best as much as possible."
Once dominated by South Korea and China, short-track podiums these days regularly feature skaters from the Netherlands, Italy, Canada and the United States.
As the reigning world and Olympic champion, South Korean star Park Ji-won swept five of the eight 1,500m races in last season's 2022-23 World Cup, yet this term he is empty-handed after the first two legs.
A wide-open competition on home ice suits China's relatively inexperienced youngsters as they get used to the furious and unpredictable nature of the sport at elite level, said team manager Liu Chenyu.
Brothers Sandor Liu Shaolin (rear left) and Liu Shaoang are expected to anchor the host's strong relay team at the Capital Indoor Stadium this week. (AN LINGJUN / FOR CHINA DAILY)
After taking a near two-year rest after Beijing 2022, Ren, who also won men's 1,000m gold at the home Olympics, is eager to shake off the rust as the 26-year-old eyes more glory at Milano Cortina 2026.
"I am not at full strength yet but I am getting better every day," said Ren, a five-time individual title winner on the World Cup series. "I have more catching up to do in the longer distances.
"I put everything behind me the moment I stepped off the podium at Beijing 2022. I've started anew, without any pressure or burden, just going as hard as I can in every race."
After completing a recovery program that was heavy on gym work, Lin, known as Lim Hyo-jun in his native South Korea, is back in peak condition and is keen to give the enthusiastic fans in his adopted home country something to cheer about this week.
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"Everyone on our team is in race mode and we are ready to put on our best possible performance," said head coach Zhang.
According to organizers, tickets for the three-day World Cup event at the 15,000-seat Capital Indoor Stadium were sold out within four hours, underlining the sport's huge popularity in Beijing.
"We are expecting a more electrifying atmosphere than the Olympics, which will definitely fuel us to go faster and stronger," said Liu Shaoang.
