BEIJING: China topped the medals table at its 2008 Summer Olympics, but expectations are much lower for next month's Beijing Games as the country attempts to build a winter sports industry nearly from scratch. China did not appear at a Winter Olympics until 1980 at Lake Placid and has hardly sparkled since, winning one gold medal — in short track speed skating — at the last Games, in South Korea's Pyeongchang, in 2018. With foreign coaches drafted in to boost expertise, forecasters Gracenote expect China to win six golds at Beijing 2022 and enjoy its "best-ever Winter Olympics." China set itself the goal of competing in all 109 events at Beijing 2022 — nearly double the number the country qualified for at Pyeongchang. China has also turned to naturalized athletes, including California natives Eileen Gu — who looks set to be the face of the Games — and ice skater Beverly Zhu.

Source: Manila Times January 27, 2022 22:20 UTC