MILAN, March 10 (Xinhua) -- Chinese team manager Tang Nan said Tuesday that China is capable of forming a national team to compete at the Paralympic Games if the women's para ice hockey competition features at the French Alps 2030.
"Yu Jing was the first female Chinese player competing at the 2022 Beijing Winter Paralympic Games. We also have a couple of good female players who can compete at the Paralympic level. I think China will form a national team four years later if the 2030 French Alps Games has the women's para ice hockey competition," Tang said.
The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) announced Sunday that they are optimistic that women's para ice hockey will make its maiden appearance at the 2030 Winter Paralympic Games.
"The sport received huge support from areas like Beijing, Hebei and Shandong Province. We had the first para ice hockey team in China only in 2016, and now we have already competed at the National Games," Tang said.
China won the bronze medal at the 2022 Beijing Winter Paralympic Games when it made the first appearance in the Olympic rink. This time in Milan, China has already advanced into the semi-finals again after finishing second in the group stage.
"We're new kids on the block, four years ago. Now at the Milan-Cortina Games, we're more confident and a better team that is eager for a better result," Tang added.
China has established a permanent para ice hockey training center in Beijing and has its own national governing body for the new sport.
Dong Tianbo, director of China's Paralympic ice hockey program, said China has the national championships and training camp every year, and has already built up the whole talent system from the provincial teams to the national team.
"The oldest national player is 41 years old, and the youngest is only 18. China is very active in participating in international competitions, and is a constant contender for top placings in the world," Dong said.
