Chinese women skaters sparkled on the second day of the 2005 ISU World Short Track Speed Skating Championships at Beijing's Capital Gymnasium yesterday taking the top three places in the 500-meter final.

Winter Olympic gold medalist Yang Yang (A) won China its first gold medal of the competition, while compatriots Wang Meng and Fu Tianyu finished second and third respectively.

The three skaters showed skillful team-play tactics by leading all the way in the women's final to dominate an event in which they have traditionally excelled. Their new coach Yi Min described the result as "perfect."

Yang led all the four laps comfortably and clocked 45.038 seconds to win her first world title since returning to the sport after missing the whole of last year's season to concentrate on her studies.

Wang, who claimed the bronze on the first day's 1,500-meter race, finished second in 45.129 seconds, followed by Fu's 45.232 seconds.

"I'm very surprised and delighted with the results today," Yang said.

"Since I failed to reach the final on the opening day of the competition, my aim today was just to earn a berth in the final. I concentrated well at the start and controlled the race well.

"It is the first time Chinese have swept the medals in a world championship event, so I'm very happy."

In the men's 500-meter final, Francois-Louis Tremblay and Charles Hamelin from Canada finished one-two in 42.106 seconds and 42.135 seconds respectively.

The defending champion, South Korean Ahn Hyun-soo, came third in 42.185 seconds.

In the men's 5,000-meter relay race semi-finals later yesterday, teams from Canada, China, the United States and the Republic of Korea made it through to today's final.

The home side is likely to win its second gold medal in the women's 3,000-meter relay race, but the South Koreans, who dominated the race on the first day of competition, are expected to give a strong challenge.

(China Daily March 13, 2005)