Athletes compete during the ice hockey women's Group B match between China and Japan at Wukesong Sports Centre in Beijing on February 6, 2022. Photo: GT/Li Hao

The Chinese women's ice hockey team defeated Japan 2-1 in the women's ice hockey preliminary round Group B match at the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics on Sunday evening.

Team China, in red outfits, caught up with Japan, in red and white, and drew 1-1 in regular time. In overtime, Chinese team's goalkeeper Zhou Jiaying performed well, blocking team Japan's threatening shots many times, with neither side scoring.

In the penalty shootout, the Chinese team won 1-0, during which Zhou made five consecutive blocks.

It has been 12 years since China was in the women's ice hockey top eight. The last time was at the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics, during which China came seventh after beating Slovakia 3-1.

Chinese player Kang Mulan controls the puck during the match at the Beijing Winter Olympics on February 6. Photo: Li Hao/Global Times

"If you don't give up until the last minute, everything is possible," Chinese team captain Yu Baiwei said after the game. "When I stepped on the ice rink, all the memories of 12 years ago flashed back in a sudden. We finally made it. Everything is so significant."

Aside from their victory, Team China's goalkeeper's tiger-headed helmet and dragon-patterned knee pads also became a hot trend on China's Twitter-like platform Sina Weibo.

"I'm so happy for the girls!" wrote one netizen on Weibo. "Zhou's 'armor' is very eye-catching and it not only showcases the beauty of the Chinese culture, but also reflects the aggressiveness and determination of our Chinese girls."

Chinese women's ice hockey team will compete with Sweden on Monday at 9:10 pm at Beijing's Wukesong Sports Center.