Asian Winter Games: China Leads, India Misses Medal Mark

The 9th Asian Winter Games were held in Harbin, Heilongjiang Province, China, from February 7 to February 14, 2025. The event played a crucial role in promoting winter sports across Asia and saw the participation of athletes from 34 countries. Organized by the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) and supported by the International Skating Union (ISU), the games featured 64 events across 11 winter sports disciplines. The official mascots, “Binbin” and “Nini” (tigers), and the motto “Dream of Winter, Love among Asia” symbolized unity and passion for winter sports.

Key Highlights

China’s Dominance

• China topped the medal tally with 85 medals (32 Gold, 27 Silver, 26 Bronze).
• Republic of Korea finished second with 45 medals (16 Gold, 15 Silver, 14 Bronze).
• Japan secured third place with 37 medals (10 Gold, 12 Silver, 15 Bronze).
• Kazakhstan and the Philippines completed the top five rankings.

Watch: Daily Current Affairs

India’s Performance

• India sent its largest-ever contingent of 59 athletes.
• India did not win any medals but demonstrated growth in winter sports.
• Tara Prasad (figure skater) achieved her personal best, finishing 8th in women’s skating.

New Participants

• Saudi Arabia debuted in alpine skiing & snowboarding.
• Cambodia participated in cross-country skiing for the first time.

First-Time Medalists

• Taiwan, Thailand, and the Philippines won their first-ever Asian Winter Games medals.

Future Host

• Saudi Arabia will host the 10th Asian Winter Games (NEOM 2029).
• It will be the first West Asian country to host this event.