Thanks to the adoption of stringent anti-coronavirus measures, training continues apace for all of Team China's 124 Paralympic hopefuls in six sports－Para alpine skiing, Para snowboarding, Para cross-country skiing, Para biathlon, Para ice hockey and wheelchair curling. They are coached by 42 staff, including seven foreigners.

"We have a slogan that says, 'Everyone is part of the fight against COVID-19, everyone should be a model in the fight,'" said Hu.

"It was really encouraging to earn China its first-ever gold medal in Pyeongchang, but I have been reminding my athletes repeatedly that it's already in the past when they stepped down from the podium. We have to start from the very beginning and we have to keep training hard."

Wang Jianbin, manager of the Chinese Para ice hockey team which was established in 2016, is also eying a podium spot for his charges.

"Though our team was built not long ago, I have confidence we will reach our goal of a top-six finish while striving for third place. We are able to meet the objective, supported by our concerted efforts and team spirit," said Wang.

Wang's confidence stems from the squad's unwavering dedication and team spirit.

"For now, the players are in good form thanks to our consistent training. We have a great coaching team and a strong logistics support team," he said.

"We have a vibrant squad full of spirit, energy and bravery."