Untitled1.png (Photo : images.china.cn)
The Chinese Olympic Committee has announced its final roster for the 2014 Winter Olympics over the weekend.
Sixty six athletes will travel to Sochi to represent China in nine of the Games' 15 sporting events ranging from Curling to Snowboarding. The roster includes 39 women and 17 men half of whom will be participating in the Olympics Games for the first time.
The oldest member of the team is 34-year old figure skater Tong Jian who won a silver medal at the Vancouver Games with girlfriend and current skating partner Pang Qing. The 16-year old figure skater, Peng Cheng, is the youngest member of the Chinese team. She will partner with veteran skater Zhang Hao for a shot at the gold.
The Chinese women’s short-track speed skating team will be competing without two-time Olympic champion Wang Meng, who fractured her right ankle while training earlier this month. According to reports, Wang will need surgery and is expected to be out at least six weeks, thereby eliminating any chance of defending her titles in the 500 meters, 1000 meters and 3000 meters relay.
Despite Wang's absence, however, China is still expected to dominate the race with world champion Liu Qiuhong and two-time Olympian Zhou Yang anchoring the team. Since 2002, China has slowly been improving its showing at the Games. That year, speed skater Yang Yang won two gold medals in short-track speed skating. At the last Winter Olympics in Vancouver, China won five gold medals, two silver medals and four bronze medals. The Chinese Winter Olympics team is set to increase their take at this year's games.
Eighty five countries will be sending nearly 6,000 athletes to compete for the 98 gold medals to be awarded in the Games.
