PyeongChang Day 9: China bags fifth silver

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China, the next host of the Winter Olympics, is up to five silver medals and one bronze after Jia Zongyang bagged a silver in the men’s freestyle skiing aerials in PyeongChang on Sunday.

World No. 2 Jia was the last taking to the hill in the final round. He got 128.05 points, just 0.46 points short of the target set by Oleksander Abramenko of Ukraine.

(L-R) Silver medalist Lee Sang-Hwa of Korea, gold medalist Nao Kodaira of Japan and bronze medalist Karolina Erbanova of the Czech Republic celebrate during the victory ceremony. /VCG Photo

In speed skating, Japan's Nao Kodaira impressed. The 500-meter world champion was looking to add an elusive Olympic title to her resume. Zhang Hong of China, who has been battling injuries, was one of those hoping to stop the Japanese star, though Zhang was unsuccessful in defending her title in the 1,000 meters last week.

Zhang Hong of China competes in PyeongChang. /VCG Photo

The 29-year-old Zhang delivered China's first-ever gold in long track at the Sochi Games. But her preparations for PyeongChang were plagued by a lingering knee injury, and she finished 15th.

Kodaira became the second Japanese speed skater to win an Olympic title. Her time of 36.95 seconds broke the Games record of the defending champ, South Korea's Lee Sang-Hwa, who took silver.

Martin Fourcade of France (Front) won the gold medal in the biathlon men's 15km mass Start at Alpensia Biathlon Centre on February 18. /VCG Photo

In biathlon, Martin Fourcade won gold in the men's 15km mass start, edging out Germany's Simon Schempp in a photo finish. The Frenchman's fourth career gold medal, and his second in PyeongChang, made him the country's most successful Winter Olympian. Norway's Emil Hegle Svendsen placed third to complete the podium.

(L-R) Gold medalists Johannes Hoesflot Klaebo, Simen Hegstad Krueger, Martin Johnsrud Sundby, and Didrik Toenseth of Norway pose at a victory ceremony for the men's cross-country skiing 4x10km relay race at the 2018 Winter Olympic Games. /VCG Photo

Meanwhile, more success for Norway came on the snow. The cross-country-crazed country ending a 16-year gold medal drought in the men's 4x10km relay. Didrik Toenseth, Martin Johnsrud Sundby, Simen Hegstad Krueger, and Johannes Hoesflot Klaebo prevailed in one hour, 33 minutes, 4.9 seconds.

In the medal standings, Norway is now on top, with nine first place finishes. Germany sits second also with nine but with fewer silver and bronze medals. The Netherlands have six golds, followed by Canada and the US with five each.