Young athletes showed their enthusiasm for ice and snow sports at the first short track speed skating championship for students held recently held in Yinchuan, Ningxia Hui autonomous region.

The two-day event attracted 17 teams, including 69 students from age 5 to 12, for competition in 200-meter, 500-meter and 1,000-meter short track speed skating.

"I met many friends during the competition," said young female contestant Fu Yuqi, 7, from Yinchuan. "I was excited and also nervous. I will practice hard and try to surpass them in the future."

In recent years, Yinchuan has actively promoted ice sports and successfully held a series of events for teenagers. There are around a dozen ice sports clubs in the city, with more than 300 teenagers involved.

"Ice sports are interesting and it is easy for participants to complete difficult movements due to its low resistance and high speed," said Zheng Xinhua, secretary general of the Yinchuan Skating Association. "It is a good choice for teenagers to develop their interest."