Wang Meng, the Chinese gold medalist in the 500 meters on Wednesday, won the bronze medal in the Olympic women's 1,500m short track speed skating event Saturday in Turin.

China's star skater Yang Yang, a double gold medalist at the Salt Lake City Games, failed to make the final.

World number one Jin Sun-yu of South Korea lived up to her fame by winning the gold medal in the 1,500m.

Jin, 17, finished in two minutes 23.494 seconds, and compatriot Choi Eun-kyung took silver in 2:24.069.

Byun Chun-sa, who crossed the line third, was disqualified, denying South Korea a clean sweep.

Jin, who has dominated the 1,500m event this season with two golds, a silver and a bronze in four World Cup races, started the seven-woman final slowly but overtook the pack with one lap remaining before winning with a big margin.

(Xinhua News Agency February 19, 2006)