China has named a bumper 53-strong team of athletes for this month's Winter Youth Olympic Games in Lausanne ©Getty Images

China has named a bumper 53-strong team of athletes for this month's Winter Youth Olympic Games in Lausanne as the country continues preparations to host the Winter Olympic Games in 2022.

It marks a significant increase on the 23 athletes that represented China at the first two editions of the Winter Youth Olympics, held in Innsbruck in 2012 and Lillehammer in 2016, respectively.

The nation is aiming to compete in all 109 events at Beijing 2022 and hopes Lausanne 2020 can provide a platform for that to be achieved.

"It's a good test for China's attempt to participate in all 109 events in the 2022 Winter Olympics," Li Jianming, head of the Chinese delegation for Lausanne 2020, was reported as saying by Chinese news agency Xinhua.

"We can gain experience and improve ourselves from Lausanne 2020, which provides a talent pool for the Beijing Winter Olympics."

Li also stressed a "zero-tolerance" stance on doping, adding that "playing true and clean comes as the top priority".

China sent a much smaller team of athletes to the Lillehammer 2016 Winter Youth Olympic Games than it will to Lausanne 2020 ©Getty Images
China sent a much smaller team of athletes to the Lillehammer 2016 Winter Youth Olympic Games than it will to Lausanne 2020 ©Getty Images

Among the members of China's team for Lausanne 2020, due to take place from January 9 to 22, is 17-year-old Zhao Dan, a former long jumper who switched to skeleton in 2018.

"Everything about skeleton was new to me at first," Zhao said, according to Xinhua.

"I didn't know how to handle it.

"I hope to stand on the podium. 

"Of course, a top finish will be the best thing for me."

China finished seventh in the medal standings at Lillehammer 2016 after collecting three golds, five silvers and two bronze.