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China, United States Split World Cup Short Track Gold Medals
China, United States Split World Cup Short Track Gold Medals
Sun Dandan of China dramatically won her first world title at the World Cup short track speed skating competition opening in Changchu December 8 while American Apolo Anton Ohno captured his eighth win in 13 World Cup races this season.
South Korean Choi Eun-Kyung, who led the women's 1,500 meters until the final lap, was bumped to the protective walls from behind by her compatriot Park Hye-Rim before China's world champion Yang Yang (A) squeezed past to finish first in the 13.5-lap race.
However, Yang was disqualified for impeding along with Park, who had won two consecutive World Cup 1,500 races before the tournament.
In the end, Yang's teammate Sun Dandan, who completed the distance in two minutes and 25.649 seconds, was awarded her first world title.
"I was lucky enough to win," said the 22-year-old Changchun native calmly.
Ohno, the world junior champion from Seattle, overtook South Korea's reigning world champion Min Ryoung on the last lap to clock a winning time of 2:18.039 in the men's 1,500 meters final.
"It is a real tough game and I am just very happy to be the final winner," Ohno told Xinhua. He has already scored two 1,500 victories at World Cup competitions in Calgary, Canada and Nobeyama, Japan.
Ryoung had to settle for the second place in 2:18.208 and the bronze medal went to Eric Bedard of Canada in 2:18.301.
Li Jiajun, the only home skater in the eight-member final, and American Rusty Smith were disqualified.
The three-day tournament, which is the fourth leg of the International Skating Union (ISU) Short Track Speed Skating World Cup, continues on Saturday with two more golds at stake in the men's and women's 500m events.
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