Weathering the challenge

Cambodia's maiden Winter Asiad campaign, featuring four teen snowboarders set to compete in the men's halfpipe, is expected to send home an encouraging message — wherever their athletes land in the high-flying discipline — said Vath Chamroeun, secretary-general of the National Olympic Committee of Cambodia.

"This is the first time for Cambodia, as a tropical and hot country, to have a team participate at the Asian Winter Games," Chamroeun told Xinhua.

The country's participation has echoed the vision of the International Olympic Committee to engage more countries and regions with hot weather, or without snow and ice, in winter sports, he added.

With the next Asian Winter Games to be held in Saudi Arabia in 2029 at Trojena, a resort situated at the heart of the country's northwestern mountain regions, interest in promoting winter sports and related tourism businesses have piqued across the gulf nations.

Kuwait is one of the ambitious newcomers from West Asia that is determined to make some noise in Harbin with a 65-strong contingent of athletes.

"Our participation in Harbin will be Kuwait's largest since our debut in 1999," said Fahid Al-Ajmi, head of the Kuwait delegation.

Kuwaiti teams have undergone rigorous preparation at both domestic and international training camps, and they will compete hard to make their presence felt in Harbin, Al-Ajmi added.

Jasem Al-Awadhi, captain of Kuwait's ice hockey team, and a three-time Asian Winter Games veteran, reiterated that his teammates are all motivated to perform well on the continental stage.

"We are determined to secure victories and elevate Kuwait's standing, building on our thorough preparation," he said.

Contact the writer at sunxiaochen@chinadaily.com.cn