Asia's quest for winter gold

China's figure skaters are expected to contend for gold in the pairs event

By Andrew Demaria
CNN

HONG KONG, China (CNN) -- China has sent its biggest ever contingent of athletes to the Salt Lake City Olympics in search of its first Winter gold medal, while Japan is hoping to repeat its success of 1998, when, as host, it bagged 10 medals, five of them gold.

Japan has downplayed expectations, however, with officials saying they anticipate a return of only three golds at the 2002 games.

Its best chances are on the ice -- in the short track and speedskating events -- or in the air.

Led by the gravity-defying Kazuyoshi Funaki -- who also took home individual gold and silver -- Japan's jumpers thrilled local fans at Nagano and became national heroes after winning the team event.

Again with Funaki sky-bound at Salt Lake City, the Japanese will be pressing the highly fancied German unit for a place on the podium.

Japan, twice host of the Winter Games, has won the most medals of all Asian nations with 29 -- eight with a golden lustre -- since it made its first appearance in 1928.

Next best is South Korea at 16, but with one more gold than Japan.

Korea's medals have come from its skaters, who have dominated the short track events.

It has won gold in the 1,000m men's and women's short-track since the competition debuted in 1992 and is odds-on favorite to repeat the dose in Salt Lake City.

Lusting for gold

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Traditionally, the toughest competition on the skating track has been from Japan and China -- the latter playing maid-of-honor nine times on the ice since it joined the Winter Games in 1976.

After winning the rights to host the 2008 Summer Games and qualifying for this year's football World Cup, China is looking to cap off what has been a stellar 12 months in sport by achieving its first Winter gold.

A record 71 athletes from the communist state have made the trip to the U.S. to compete in 38 disciplines.

Among the hopefuls to break the gold medal duck is Li Jianjun, the men's short track world champion.

Li is looking for revenge after missing out on gold four years ago by a slim 0.053 seconds to Korea's Kim Dong-Sung in the 1,000m.

But it has been its figure skaters that are dazzling onlookers in the lead up to competition.

Xue Shen and Hongbo Zhao are among the contenders in the 20-couple pairs event and have been showing off the quadruple sachow -- a move never before performed in competition.

Lesser lights

Members of the South Korean Olympic team are greeted by Native American dancers

With China joining Japan and South Korea as Asia's most likely medallists, spare a thought for the lesser lights in the region.

Among the other Asian nations competing at the Games are Nepal, Mongolia, India, New Zealand, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Thailand, Fiji, Australia, Chinese Taipei and Hong Kong, a Chinese territory. With the exception of the former Soviet states, Australia and New Zealand, none have won a Winter Olympic medal.

Australia -- more famous for its surf, sand and sun-influenced life style than winter sport prowess -- is looking for only its second ever medal after Zali Steggall won bronze in the women's slalom at Nagano.

That finish was only the second time an Asian-Pacific nation appeared on the podium in Alpine skiing -- an event dominated by Europe and the U.S. New Zealand won a silver in 1992.

Australia's medal hopes rest largely on the fortunes of aerial freestylist Jacqui Cooper, winner of World Cup titles in 1999, 2000 and 2001. At the last Olympics, Cooper was among the favorites for a medal but crashed spectacularly, injuring her leg.

To the northeast of Australia, the Pacific nation of Fiji will be cheering on its sole Olympian, 21-year-old Alpine skier Laurence Thoms.

Thoms should seek out Prawat Nagvajara, another lone competitor and Thailand's first Winter Olympics representative.

Nagvajara, flag bearer in the opening ceremony, has qualified for the 30km cross-country event where he rates his chances at less than slim.

"I'll be the last skier that will cross the finish line, but in a reasonable time," Nagvajara told Reuters news agency.

For the 43-year-old Nagvajara, just finishing is enough to complete his Olympic dream, but for Asia's winter sport powerhouses -- China, Japan and South Korea -- ambitions are much grander.