LAHORE MIRROR (Monitoring Desk)– Host nation China nabbed its first gold medal on Saturday as dazzling performances on snow and ice nudged the political drama that has dominated the Beijing Olympics toward the sidelines.
“You can always trust China” began trending in posts on social media platform Weibo after its short track skaters won the mixed team relay, an event making its debut at the Olympics and that the country has dominated in international competition.
The golden dream was almost cut short in the semi-final when the United States crossed the finish line ahead of the hosts, only to be disqualified along with the Russian Olympic Committee, after a lengthy video review.
“My heart was almost jumping out of my throat!” wrote “egg’s heartbeating diary” on Weibo.
Six gold medals were up for grabs on Saturday as athletes overcame pandemic obstacles to shine on the world’s stage, even as political storylines continued to swirl around the Games.
Norway’s Johannes Thingnes Boe, forced to isolate from his team mates because of a COVID-19 close contact, proved there were few Winter Games shows quite like his.
A blistering skiing effort by the beloved biathlete brought his team back from the dead to triumph.
The close contact restrictions were still in place as the winners were presented with their bouquets of flowers, and Boe stood apart from his team at the ceremony.
An upset in the men’s freestyle moguls saw Walter Wallberg of Sweden pip Canadian Michael Kingsbury for gold.
Dutch favourite Irene Schouten came from behind in the 3,000 metres speed skating to beat Italian Francesca Lollobrigida, a great-niece of 1950s film star Gina Lollobrigida.
Ursa Bogataj sparked Slovenian joy when she won the women’s normal hill ski-jump gold. Her compatriot Nika Kriznar claimed bronze as Germany’s Katharina Althaus had to settle for silver.
Norway nabbed the first gold medal at the Games when Therese Johaug powered to victory in the women’s skiathlon race, well ahead of Russian Natalia Nepryaeva and Austria’s Teresa Stadlober, who snagged the bronze medal.
POLITICS ON SIDELINES
Further back in 43rd place was Dinigeer Yilamujiang, a 20-year-old cross-country skier whose role as a final torchbearer for China in the opening ceremony continued to make waves.
The selection of Yilamujiang, from Altay in China’s western Xinjiang region, as one of two final torchbearers came as many western nations diplomatically boycotted the Games over China’s treatment of Uyghurs and members of other Muslim minority groups. China rejects allegations of human rights abuses.
The International Olympic Committee on Saturday insisted Yilamujiang’s ethnicity had nothing to do with her selection.
“She has every right, wherever she comes from, whatever her background, to compete… and to take part in any ceremony,” said IOC spokesman Mark Adams.
Chinese president Xi Jinping, who triumphantly opened the Olympics on Friday night in a partially-filled Bird’s Nest stadium, continued his diplomatic push on the Games’ sidelines.
The day after forming a groundbreaking alliance with Russian President Vladimir Putin against the West, Xi met with leaders of Serbia, Egypt, Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan ahead of a Lunar New Year-themed banquet at Beijing’s Great Hall of the People.
SOURCE:REUTERS
