Heilongjiang adjusts winter sports talent selection criteria

Heilongjiang Provincial Sports Bureau officially announced on Aug 7 that it will adjust its winter sports talent selection criteria, allowing athletes to simultaneously participate in multiple sports competitions or cross competition items.

It’s an effort for Heilongjiang to select athletes to prepare for the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics.

Enrollment for the talent pool project had begun this April.

All the applicants will be accessed via 68 test indicators based on body shape, physical function, athletic ability, special ability and sports psychology during a special training course.

Applicants who give good performances will be included in the reserve talent pool and have an opportunity to represent China to compete at the Beijing Winter Olympic.

As of Aug 7, around 2,800 applicants have completed their tests on skydiving, diving, surfing, martial arts, football, roller skating, martial arts, athletics, gymnastics and trampoline; with about 500 people qualifying for further training course.

Meanwhile, eight applicants directly entered China National Team and China Youth Team for their performances and sports potential; and 68 applicants directly entered the winter sports training team of Heilongjiang.

Additionally, Heilongjiang was seeking for cooperation with Shandong to establish an alpine skiing team; and cooperated with the winter sports management center of General Administration of Sports to establish a freestyle skiing team and a Nordic skiing team.

Currently, winter sports projects in Heilongjiang province involve 102 competition items in seven categories, covering all the competition items at the Pyeongchang Winter Sports.

Youth players selected to prepare for the 2022 Beijing Olympic Games undergo training under the guidance of a foreign coach in Harbin, capital city of Heilongjiang. [Photo/Chinanews.com]

Youth players selected to prepare for the 2022 Beijing Olympic Games undergo a physical test in Harbin, capital city of Heilongjiang. [Photo/Chinanews.com]