Chinese figure skating signed Li Mingzhu as the coach of the women's single team on a four-year deal, a top official of Chinese winter sports said on Thursday.

Li is expected to take command of the team until the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia.

Ren Hongguo, deputy director of China's Winter Sports Administrative Center, made the announcement on Thursday, but no financial details were disclosed.

"We are happy to sign Li as new head coach of the Chinese figure skating women's single team. We hope that under her leadership, China will take a big step forward in the event," said Ren.

Li is the former coach of world champion and two-time Olympic bronze medalist Chen Lu. She had been working at East West Ice Palace in Artesia, California before she left for China on July 14.

"It is an honor to coach the Chinese team and I will try my best," said Li. "But it is hard to say that we could make a notable advancement in 2014. It took Chen Lu and me 10 years to claim a world championship title."