URUMQI, March 5 (Xinhua) -- The alpine skiing event of China's 12th National Games for Persons with Disabilities & the 9th National Special Olympic Games opened Wednesday in Urumqi, northwestern China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.

Liaoning skier Liu Sitong claimed first place in the women's sitting downhill event with one minute and 54.12 seconds. The 31-year-old previously won one silver and three bronze medals at the Beijing Winter Paralympics.

"For every athlete, just being able to compete is something to be proud of," Liu said. "The Milan Paralympics is coming next year, and my biggest goal right now is to focus on the present -- enjoying both the competition and training process."

Scheduled for December 8 to 15, the 2025 Games will take place in Guangdong, Hong Kong, and Macao, while the alpine skiing events are being held early from March 5 to 9 in Urumqi.

The competition features five events -- slalom, giant slalom, super-G, super combined, and downhill, attracting 11 teams across China, with a total of 74 athletes. Enditem