Chinese Li Jiajun and Li Haonan qualified for the men's short track speedskating 500m quarterfinals in the Turin Olympic Games on Wednesday.

The 31-year-old veteran skater Li Jiajun, in his fourth and last Olympics, topped the his group in 0:42.914.

Li Jiajun is one of China's best short track speed skaters. His career accolades include four Olympic medals, 16 world championship medals including nine golds. He also won the 1,500m bronze here.

Li Haonan, 24, finished second in his group at 0:42.703, overtaken by Lee Ho-Suk of South Korea, who won silvers in 1500m and 1000m in the Turin Games.

The top two finishers in seven groups and two fastest third placers qualify for the quarterfinals.

Ahn Hyun-Soo of South Korea, who has won two golds in Turin, Eric Bedard of Canada and Apolo Anton Ohno of the United States also made it to the quarterfinals which starts on Saturday.

(Xinhua News Agency February 23, 2006)