Interview: Coach Zhang unsatisfied with China's short track performance at Beijing World Championships

China ended the 2025 ISU Short Track World Championships with one silver and one bronze medal, a result head coach Zhang Jing called "unsatisfactory but revealing progress."

BEIJING, March 16 (Xinhua) -- China's short track speed skating team wrapped up the 2025 ISU Short Track World Championships in Beijing with one silver and one bronze medal, a result head coach Zhang Jing described to Xinhua as "unsatisfactory but revealing progress" as she vowed to address shortcomings ahead of the Milan-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics.

Competing on home ice at the Capital Indoor Stadium, China struggled to replicate its four-gold haul from last year's world championships, missing the podium in all individual events except for Liu Shaoang's bronze in the men's 1,500 meters.

The team's lone silver came in the men's 5,000m relay on Sunday, where Liu, battling a knee injury, anchored a gritty performance. During the men's 5,000m relay semifinal on Saturday, Liu collided with a Dutch athlete in the final laps, slamming into the mats with such force that his left blade sliced into his right knee.

Though China advanced to the final after the Netherlands was penalized, Liu's injury, a five-centimeter gash damaging his tendon membrane, required urgent treatment. The team doctor revealed that Liu insisted to medics mid-suture, "Stitch it tight, I'm racing tomorrow."

"His decision to compete despite pain was pivotal," Zhang said of Liu, who skipped the 1,000m event to prioritize the relay. "He told me he 'forgot about the pain' while racing. This wasn't just about medals, it was a mental breakthrough for him and an inspiration to the team."

The championships exposed a mixture of promise and frustration. Sun Long finished fifth in both the men's 1,000m and 500m, while Wang Xinran became the only Chinese in the women's 500m final. Zhang acknowledged progress, particularly in athletes like Gong Li, who set personal bests, but stressed that reaching finals alone wasn't enough.

"Small errors cost us dearly," she said, citing Sun's rushed tactics in the 500m final due to a poor lane draw and a late penalty that knocked the women's relay team out of contention. "We have the skill but lack composure under pressure."

Compounding challenges, the team faced a pre-event norovirus outbreak that sidelined five key members until March 12, while absences further complicated China's campaign. Star skater Lin Xiaojun, recovering from shoulder surgery, and Wang Ye, sidelined by injury, left gaps in relay strategies. "They're core starters, and their absence disrupted our exchanges and consistency," Zhang admitted. Meanwhile, Liu's false start in the 500m and the women's relay penalty underscored what Zhang called "avoidable lapses in focus."

The coach also highlighted the psychological toll of competing at home. "The pressure affected our decision-making," she said, noting that athletes struggled to replicate training form in high-stakes races. "Sun, for example, started strong in the 1,000m but lost positioning later. We need stronger mental preparation."

With under a year until the Milan Olympics, Zhang outlined a roadmap for improvement. Key priorities include reintegrating injured stars like Lin, refining race-day tactics, and bolstering endurance and speed.

"We have medal potential, but flawless execution in major tournaments requires steadier minds and tactical precision," Zhang said. "Moving forward, we will focus on cultivating greater composure in high-pressure situations, minimizing errors, and striving for better results in future competitions." ■