Liu Zixu reacts after crossing the finish line during the men's para biathlon individual sitting on Day 2 of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Paralympic Games in Val di Fiemme, Italy on March 8, 2026. Photo: VCG

Entering only the second day of competition on Sunday at the Milano Cortina 2026 Paralympic Winter Games, the Chinese Paralympic delegation has already achieved its best result ever at an overseas Winter Paralympics and continues to maintain its strong momentum with a growing medal haul.

Sunday's competition was highlighted by several gold medals won by Chinese athletes: Liu Zixu in the men's sitting event of the Paralympic biathlon, Ji Lijia in the men's snowboard cross SB-UL, Dang Hesong in the men's individual vision impaired event of the Paralympic biathlon, and Wu Zhongwei in the men's snowboard cross SB-LL1 of the Paralympic snowboard. China now tops the medal table with a total of 16 medals - eight gold, five silver, and three bronze, already their best result at an overseas Games.

Meanwhile, the world No.1 Chinese wheelchair curling team defeated Italy in the mixed team event on Sunday. After beating the US on Saturday, the Chinese squad maintained their momentum in their pursuit of gold. The Chinese team is a two-time Paralympic champion and four-time world champion.

On Sunday, Chinese State Councilor Shen Yiqin, also director of the State Council's working committee for disabled people, sent a congratulatory message to the Chinese sports delegation on behalf of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and the State Council, according to the Xinhua News Agency.

The Chinese delegation's first gold medal was contributed to the Chinese Paralympic delegation by Cai Jiayun coming from the biathlon venue on Saturday, at which he topped other athletes in the men's 7.5km standing biathlon final. In the same competition, another Chinese athlete, 26-year-old Liu Xiaobin, secured the first silver medal for Team China at the Milan Paralympic Games. 

Despite showing no clear advantage at the start, Cai seized an opportunity during the first shooting stage, swiftly and steadily hitting all five targets with remarkable speed and composure. That performance propelled him to the top of the standings, but Cai did not let up. He continued to control the race through the subsequent laps and the second shooting stage, ultimately claiming victory with a commanding 21.8-second lead over the runner-up.

After the game, Cai described his flawless shooting as overperformance, and expressed that results like this in shooting rarely happen even in training. Although there might have been an element of luck, this gold medal ultimately showcased Cai's "spirit of perseverance" in sports, one netizen posted on Sina Weibo.  

Before becoming a Paralympic biathlete, Cai specialized in Paralympic cross-country skiing, where he won silver and bronze medals at international events such as the Beijing 2022 Winter Paralympics.

However, seeking new breakthroughs, he transitioned to the Paralympic biathlon in 2024. Regarding this sport he had never tried before, Cai once said according to China News Network, "I feel like all I have are weaknesses. I can only keep working hard, and hard, and harder."

"Even setting aside the identity of para athletes, transitioning between these two sports is extremely challenging in terms of the shift in athletic ability and physical fitness required. For example, biathlon requires athletes to rapidly adjust their heart rate and breathing after intense exertion, while cross-country skiing, as a sustained aerobic sport, has a very different rhythm from the biathlon," Liao Hui, a physical training coach for athletes, told the Global Times. 

Encouraged by Cai's victory, Chinese female athlete Wang Yue secured another gold medal in the women's 7.5km visually impaired biathlon.

Born in 1999, Wang has congenital cataracts and can only perceive light and shadow. Her visual impairment made it difficult for her to see the undulating snow-covered track at first, but she has relied on her guide's verbal commands to mentally map every section and every turn of the course throughout the year. To assist athletes with similar conditions, her team has also developed innovative training methods for visually impaired skiers, incorporating approaches such as "auditory positioning" and "tactile guidance" into national standards.

"I can't see the world clearly, but I want the world to see me," Wang once told media. Prior to her gold in Milan, Wang had also secured one silver and one bronze at the Beijing 2022 Winter Paralympics. 

Beyond the medals already secured, China has strong gold medal potential in several upcoming events. The Chinese wheelchair curling team, regarded as the "dream team" of the delegation, will go all out for gold in the mixed team finals on March 14. 

Meanwhile, Cai will continue  to compete in the para biathlon men's 12.5km individual standing event alongside three teammates, scheduled for Sunday local time in Italy. Liu Sitong, the flag bearer for the current Chinese delegation to the Paralympic Games, will also aim for gold in the upcoming alpine skiing events.

Scheduled to end on March 15, the Milano Cortina 2026 Paralympic Winter Games is the largest Winter Paralympics to date. Over 600 athletes from 55 countries and regions are competing in 79 events across six sports.