Skate expectations for China's speedsters

The four-title early-season haul has already matched Team China's gold count from last season's World Cup campaign, boding well for the team's bid to beat its four-medal Beijing 2022 total at the 2026 Winter Olympics.

Zhang, however, is guarding against complacency and wants to see more consistency from the squad.

"We need to consolidate our strength in relays and men's sprint events while pushing harder to catch up with the world's best in more distance events, especially on the women's side," said Zhang.

"The world of short-track speed skating has changed dramatically in recent years, with many countries improving rapidly and the competitions getting closer and more unpredictable.

"We need to keep up by racing against the best as much as possible."

Once dominated by South Korea and China, short-track podiums these days regularly feature skaters from the Netherlands, Italy, Canada and the United States.

As the reigning world and Olympic champion, South Korean star Park Ji-won swept five of the eight 1,500m races in last season's 2022-23 World Cup, yet this term he is empty-handed after the first two legs.

A wide-open competition on home ice suits China's relatively inexperienced youngsters as they get used to the furious and unpredictable nature of the sport at elite level, said team manager Liu Chenyu.

After taking a near two-year rest after Beijing 2022, Ren, who also won men's 1,000m gold at the home Olympics, is eager to shake off the rust as the 26-year-old eyes more glory at Milano Cortina 2026.

"I am not at full strength yet but I am getting better every day," said Ren, a five-time individual title winner on the World Cup series. "I have more catching up to do in the longer distances.

"I put everything behind me the moment I stepped off the podium at Beijing 2022. I've started anew, without any pressure or burden, just going as hard as I can in every race."

After completing a recovery program that was heavy on gym work, Lin, known as Lim Hyo-jun in his native South Korea, is back in peak condition and is keen to give the enthusiastic fans in his adopted home country something to cheer about this week.

"Everyone on our team is in race mode and we are ready to put on our best possible performance," said head coach Zhang.

According to organizers, tickets for the three-day World Cup event at the 15,000-seat Capital Indoor Stadium were sold out within four hours, underlining the sport's huge popularity in Beijing.

"We are expecting a more electrifying atmosphere than the Olympics, which will definitely fuel us to go faster and stronger," said Liu Shaoang.

sunxiaochen@chinadaily.com.cn