Sports ministry hails Russian athletes’ performance at Russia-China youth games

MOSCOW, December 12. /TASS/. Russian athletes have performed successfully at the first Russian-Chinese winter youth games, held in China’s Harbin (Heilongjiang province) from December 7 to 11, Deputy Sports Minister Marina Tomilova told Tass on Monday. The Russian national team has won the country medal ranking, grabbing 50 medals (20 told, 15 silver and 15 bronze). Chinese athletes have 28 awards (seven gold, 12 silver and nine bronze medals). Young athletes aged between 13 and 21 took part in the tournament, competing in five sports - hockey, figure skating, short track, speed skating and Alpine skiing. "The sports ministry gives good marks to the first Russian-Chinese games," Tomilova said. "Russians have honorably represented their country at the competitions, showing high results in Alpine skiing and speed skating, in figure skating and hockey. As for short track, our competitors from China were better," she added. "And what is no less important, athletes and coaches from both counties had an excellent opportunity to communicate. Russia and China remain leading sports world powers, that is why these contacts are very important," she added. The second Russian-Chinese winter youth games are due in Russia in 2018. Read more