Para athletes made their debuts in the cross-country skiing competition of the 32nd FISU World Winter University Games on Wednesday, marking the first time at the Winter Universiade that para sports events were scheduled concurrently with non-disabled athletes.

This milestone underscores the Games' growing inclusivity.

Germany's Marco Maier, who won silver at the Beijing 2022 Winter Paralympics, claimed gold in the men's 10km para-standing cross-country skiing in 22 minutes and 37.3 seconds.

Fellow German Leonie Maria Walter triumphed in the women's visually impaired 10km race with a time of 25:37.9, while Finland's Inkki Inola took the men's visually impaired 10km title in 22:51.4.

Turin 2025 introduced para sports for the first time, featuring alpine and cross-country skiing events.

Norway's Olaf Martin Aaserud Talmo and Izabela Marcisz of Poland won gold in the men's and women's 10km cross-country skiing events, respectively.

In alpine skiing, Emy Charbonnier of France emerged victorious in the women's alpine combined.

The two gold medals awarded in freestyle skiing dual moguls went to Japan and Kazakhstan.

Meanwhile, China narrowly lost 7-6 to Italy in a men's curling round-robin match.