Over the final two days of the Milano Cortina 2026 Paralympic Winter Games, which closed on Sunday evening, Chinese athletes on the ice drew strength from the sting of defeat and the thrill of a comeback as they look ahead to the next four years.

In a tense wheelchair curling mixed team final on Saturday, China fell 4-3 to Canada, with the outcome hanging in the balance until Canada's last stone sealed the gold.

"The players showed strong determination and gave it their all in the final," said the team coach Yue Qingshuang in Cortina, Italy. "We simply lost control of precision, line and weight on some of our final shots."

Yue praised the team's mental maturity but acknowledged that the loss underscored the need to sharpen their takeout and hitting skills.

China won gold in the previous two Paralympic wheelchair curling mixed team events and has captured multiple world championship titles. Its decorated history means other teams now study it closely.

"Canada, Sweden, South Korea and others have emerged as strong and resilient competitors at the Games. It's a pity to lose this time, but the loss also relieves some pressure," she said. "What matters most is that we focus on ourselves, maintain consistent performance and aim for 2030."

Wang Haitao, the 36-year-old team captain, said China's wheelchair curling remains at an elite global level, pointing to the team's gold medal in mixed doubles and silver medal in mixed team at the Paralympics as proof.

"Now, with more and more young players joining the team, there is a lot of fresh talent coming in. We need to help them step up, so that when we eventually retire, they'll be ready to take over," he said.

Hours before the Paralympics closing ceremony on Sunday evening, China's para ice hockey team secured its second consecutive bronze medal after a dramatic comeback victory over the Czech Republic, securing a 3-2 win at the Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena.

"Whether we are down 2-0, 3-0 or even 4-0, as long as there is one minute or even one second left, we will fight with everything we have," said team captain Wang Zhidong.

"This medal is a motivation for the younger players on the team. It gives them confidence. They are our future, and I believe our future holds unlimited possibilities," he said.

The team now has 17 members, with an average age of 26 and the youngest at 16.

Since its formation in 2016, the squad has firmly established itself among the world's top four teams.

"In the past, selecting players was quite difficult as we had to visit candidates door to door and explain what ice hockey was all about," said team manager Tang Nan in a previous interview with Xinhua News Agency. "Now, potential athletes come to me on their own, expressing their love for the sport and their eagerness to give it a try."

Russian coach Nikolay Sharshukov attributed the team's success partly to the establishment of a dedicated para ice hockey training arena in Beijing, high-quality accommodation and other supportive measures, as well as opportunities to compete abroad in real-game scenarios.

"In the highly competitive sport of para ice hockey, Chinese athletes also stand out for their strong execution and work ethic, even when exhausted," he added.

On Sunday evening, the Paralympic flame in Milan and Cortina was extinguished. China finished atop the medal table with 15 gold, 13 silver and 16 bronze medals.

The Paralympic flag was passed to the French Alps 2030 organizing committee, the host of the next Winter Games.

wangxiaoyu@chinadaily.com.cn