Lin Xiaojun of China celebrates after the men's 500m final match of the short track speed skating event at the 9th Asian Winter Games in Harbin, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, Feb. 8, 2025. (Xinhua/Huang Wei)

China's Li Fanghui secured the host nation's first gold medal at the 2025 Harbin Asian Winter Games, triumphing in the women's freeski halfpipe event at the Yabuli Ski Resort on Saturday.

In the men's sprint classic event, China's Wang Qiang showcased his strength, finishing the final with a time of 2:56.19 to secure gold. Japan's Haruki Yamashita claimed the silver with a time of 2:57.90, while Kazakhstan's Konstantin Bortsov took the bronze.

Chinese President Xi Jinping waves during the opening ceremony of the 9th Asian Winter Games in Harbin northeast Chi

HARBIN - China's Li Fanghui secured the host nation's first gold medal at the 2025 Harbin Asian Winter Games, triumphing in the women's freeski halfpipe event at the Yabuli Ski Resort on Saturday.

The ninth Asian Winter Games opened in the northeastern Chinese city of Harbin on Friday with a celebration of athletes from across the continent. Hosting the Winter Asiad for the second time under the motto,