S Korean skaters win ISU World Sprint Speed Skating Championships
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South Korean skaters won both male and female competitions of the ISU World Sprint Speed Skating Championships held in Obihiro Saturday and Sunday.
Lee Sang-Hwa was crowned in the female competition, while her compatriot, veteran Lee Kyou-Hyuk won the male event of the championships.
Another South Korean compatriot Lee Kang-Seok, Sunday's 500-meter winner in the male competition, was second overall. Japan's Keiichiro Nagashima came third.
In the female side, Japan's Sayuri Yoshii stood second overall, after winning both Saturday and Sunday's 1,000 meters. Jenny Wolf of Germany, despite winning the 500 meters Sunday, finished third in total ranking.
The overall title was determined by points converted from times in two 500-meter and two 1,000 meter races during the weekend.
Shani Davis of the United States and Wang Beixing of China, men's and women's world sprint overall champions last year, are among those who have skipped this year's competition.
Four Chinese skaters are among the female contestants, namely Yu Jing, Jin Peiyu, Ren Hui and Zhang Shuang. Yu and Jin finished both sixth with the same points.
Chinese male skaters performed moderately in the competition, with Zhang Zhongqi placed 15th and Yu Fengtong 22nd.
"We came to the championships for practice before the Vancouver Olympics. Most Chinese skaters compete only in the 500 meters in the Olympics and basically they performed well in their main discipline," said Xing Shuo, leader of the Chinese team.
"However, Chinese ladies will face stiff opposition from rivals including Wolf and Lee," Xing added. "Wolf is a traditional rival, while Lee has shown growing ability to challenge others in the 500meters, which is a surprise for us."
China has yet to win a gold medal in Olympic speed skating, and the task rests mostly on Wang Beixing.
The competition was held in Meiji Hokkaido Tokachi Oval, Japan's second indoor rink for sprint speed skating which was just completed last September.
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