Short-track speed skating shines in Harbin

The 2023-2024 China Cup Short Track Speed Skating Elite League (Harbin Division) kicked off in Harbin, the capital city of China's northernmost Heilongjiang province, on Oct 19, with nearly 200 athletes from 23 teams nationwide participating.

The competition will last for four days, divided into youth and open groups. It will host several individual competitions, including the men's and women's 500m, 1,000m, and 1,500m races.

Additional relay competitions include the men's 5,000m, women's 3,000m, and mixed 2,000m relay.

The 2023-2024 China Cup Short Track Speed Skating Elite League comprises four legs. The first two were completed in North China’s Inner Mongolia autonomous region at the end of September.

Harbin serves as the third leg. Once concluded, the final leg will be held in Qitaihe city on Oct 26.

The top 32 athletes from the open group and the top 16 from the youth group, based on the overall points accumulated from the first two legs, will qualify to compete in the 2023-2024 National Short Track Speed Skating Championship.