Ready already

The 2025 Harbin Asian Winter Games will mark the biggest representation of Asian countries and regions with 34 NOCs, the most in history, having confirmed their entries.

A total of 64 medal events across six sports will be competed for from Feb 7-14. Making their debut at the event will be mixed doubles curling, ski mountaineering and synchronized aerials of freestyle skiing.

It will be Harbin's second time staging the continental gala event following its maiden hosting in 1996, and the third edition to be held in China after the 2007 edition in Changchun, Jilin province.

The next major test, among a total of 14 events to be held through January, will be a four-day short-track speed skating national tournament that kicks off on Nov 14. This is expected to involve 180 athletes in 30 teams at the Heilongjiang provincial ice sports training center.

A critical transformation rehearsal will follow the short-track tournament at the same rink to test the procedure of the facility switch for short-track to figure skating events at the same venue.