Half-pipe ski team eyes Olympic glory

China's half-pipe ski team, which was set up in April, has already set its sights on the podium at the 2022 Winter Olympics on home soil.

"Skiing is a new sport in China and we are competing against people who have been skiing for more than 15 years - since they were children. But we've made good progress and we've qualified for some World Cup events this year. We are trying to qualify for the 2018 Olympics, but our main focus is Beijing 2022," Mauro Nunez, head coach of China's half-pipe ski team, said on Saturday.

"We are trying to get a big team there, and will be trying to make the podium. China also has a long-term plan, as it will be difficult to advance so far in a short time," said the 43-year-old, who coached Russia's national team for two years before the 2014 Sochi Winter Games, where the sport had its Olympic debut.