Vietnam's sole athlete at 2025 Asian Winter Games aims to break barriers in winter sports

A sole athlete from Vietnam is set to compete at the ongoing 2025 Harbin Asian Winter Games, determined to break barriers for a tropical country in the world of winter sports.

Duong Truong Lap, Vietnam’s sole representative, is joined by his coach and the chef de mission, representing three generations of winter sports athletes from the country. Together, they have traveled to Harbin for this historic moment.

For an athlete from a tropical nation like Vietnam, competing in short track speed skating presents a significant challenge.

"In Vietnam, we only have two ice rinks, and they're small., so Lap often travels to neighboring countries like Thailand, Indonesia, and the Philippines for training camps organized by the International Skating Union," said Quang Vinh Ngo, head of mission for the team.

Lap said his journey began with inline speed skating, but he quickly fell in love with short track speed skating.

"It's like flying on the ice, especially when your hands touch the surface," he said.

The team members are in Harbin for the first time, busy taking photos, exploring the crowds, buying equipment, and doing plenty of shopping.

Despite the chilly minus 20 degrees Celsius temperatures, Team Vietnam is determined to give their best on the ice, sharing their passion with other tropical countries.

"We hope the winter game (sports) in Vietnam can be developed faster, stronger, and Vietnam will be a member of the winter sport in the world," said Vo Huu Vinh Nguyen, the team's coach.

Running from February 7 to 14 in Harbin, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, the 9th Asian Winter Games has gathered 1,275 competitors from 34 countries and regions, making it the largest edition of the Games in history in terms of participation.

Vietnam's sole athlete at 2025 Asian Winter Games aims to break barriers in winter sports

Vietnam's sole athlete at 2025 Asian Winter Games aims to break barriers in winter sports

Xi'an, the capital city of what is now northwest China's Shaanxi Province, has played a pivotal role in facilitating China's exchanges with the rest of the world through the ancient Silk Road.

The city, which was called Chang'an in ancient China, served as the starting point of the Silk Road. Chang'an was the capital city of several ancient Chinese dynasties, including the Western Han and the Tang, from 202 BC to AD 907.

Stepping out of the Xi'an Railway Station, one will encounter the colossal ruins of the Danfeng Gate of the Daming Palace. This gate was the national gateway of the Tang Dynasty (618-907).

Over 1,300 years ago, envoys from all nations from every corner of the world would pass through this very gate to pay homage to what was then the world's most powerful empire.

In Istanbul, the Topkapi Palace Museum, built in 1478, was the heart of the Ottoman Empire.

As camel bells echoed across deserts from Chang'an and merchant ships sailed oceans from east China's Quanzhou City, treasures of civilization from ancient China ultimately settled within this museum.

Its collections include vast numbers of Chinese paintings, calligraphy, and precious gold and silver artifacts, among them 12,000 pieces of Chinese porcelain.

At the Topkapi Palace Museum, these porcelain wares now stand on display for the world, telling a history of civilizational exchange spanning Eurasia.

Northwest China's Xi'an plays pivotal role in boosting ancient exchanges with outside world