China, already a force to be reckoned with in figure skating, expects more glory in the sport when it hosts the Winter Olympics in 2022.
"I am optimistic about our medal prospects at the 2022 Winter Olympics," head coach of Chinese national team Yao Bin said Friday after the figure skate competition concluded here at the National Winter Games.
"The young athletes did well this time. Some of them are already capable of landing high-difficulty jumps. They will be serious medal contenders in six years time."
Shen Xue/Zhao Hongbo and Pang Qing/Tong Jian, both training under Yao, made a 1-2 finish for China in figure skating pairs event of the 2010 Vancouver Games. But the two pairs retired after ranking fourth and eighth respectively in Sochi 2014.
The quadrennially-held event has witnessed some world-class performances in figure skating, with world junior silver medalist Jin Boyang having landed a quad lutz-triple toe loop combination in men's singles. World championships runners-up Sui Wenjing/Han Cong also successfully executed a quadruple twist in their free skate.
"Sui and Han have world-class difficulty routines and good execution," said Zhao Hongbo, who took up a coaching job at the national team.
"They've executed quadruple twist and quadruple throw successfully in training. The only problem is Sui's injury. She may need surgery after the National Winter Games."
Sui and Han, 20 and 23, have been bothered by injuries since 2014, and were forced to skip the Sochi Games.
Junior champions Yu Xiaoyu/Jin Yang, Youth Winter Olympic winners in 2012, are also expected to shine at the Beijing 2022.
In the men's event, 18-year-old Jin Boyang impressed with his world highest difficulty.
"This is my best free skate performance so far in this season," said Jin, the first ever skater to have landed four quad jumps in a free skate and six quads in a competition.
The best result for Chinese male Olympians in figure skating is the seventh place by Yan Han at Sochi 2014. Jin is widely expected to rewrite the history in 2022.
"My goal is to become China's first male figure skater who makes it to the podium," said Jin.
Despite its success in the pairs, China has failed to make a breakthrough in the ladies' event in recent years.
Defending champion Li Zijun retained her national title in Urumqi comfortably, but she still needs to improve to challenge world stars like Kim Yu-na and Adelina Sotnikova.
Yao's optimism was ehcoed by Zhao Hongbo.
"The younger generation has made rapid progrss," said Zhao.
"We will make good preparations for the Pyeongchang 2018 Games. But, our ultimate goal is about the Beijing 2022."
