Harbin: South Korea captured gold in the mixed relay race in short track speed skating at the Asian Winter Games on Saturday, the first of what it hopes will be several medals at the competition in China. Choi Min-jeong, Kim Gil-li, Kim Tae-sung, and Park Ji-won finished first in the 2,000-meter relay final at Heilongjiang Ice Events Training Center Multifunctional Hall in the northeastern city of China.
According to Yonhap News Agency, this was South Korea's first medal in Harbin, as the mixed relay made its Asian Winter Games debut. Kazakhstan finished in second place and Japan secured the bronze. The home team China came in last after its anchor, Lin Xiaojun, fell late in the race.
Choi led off for South Korea, followed by Kim Gil-li, Kim Tae-sung, and Park. South Korea stayed in the lead after the first run through its four skaters. However, China moved ahead with seven laps to go when Fan Kexin zipped past Choi on the inside, maintaining the lead until the two anchors, Lin for China and Park for South Korea, had their last turn.
Lin, a naturalized Chinese athlete born Lim Hyo-jun in South Korea, stepped on a rubber block and fell on his own with two laps to go. With the two other countries well back of the pack, Park had a clear lane to cruise across the finish line.
Finals for the women's and men's 1,500m and the women's and men's 500m are scheduled for later Saturday. Sunday will feature the four remaining short track finals: the women's and men's 1,000m, the women's 3,000m relay, and the men's 5,000m relay. South Korea is trying to win six out of nine gold medals up for grabs.