Samsung ISU World Cup Short Track
Kobe(JPN) 26-28 October 2007
The second event in the 2007/2008 Samsung ISU World Cup Short
Track series concluded in Kobe, Japan on Sunday evening.
This weekend saw the Japan host its first Short Track World
Cup in six years in front of an enthusiastic crowd. The three-day
event started with preliminaries on Friday, followed by two-day
sessions contested by some 160 skaters from 21 countries and
regions on 500m, 1,000m (twice), 1,500m distances and 3,000m
ladies’ and 5,000m men’s relay distances.
This weekend’s World Cup in Kobe also witnessed Korea’s
continuing strength. Korean athletes won eighteen medals out
of 30 in total, including eight gold medals leaving the other
two golds to China.
On Saturday, in 1,500 meter distance finals for ladies and
men, Korea literally swept away all of the six titles on the
podium. Both Sun-Yu Jin and Olympic triple medalist, Hyun-Soo
Ahn of Korea captured gold medals. They had been thumbed as
favorites after their victories on the same distance in Harbin,
China. Eun-Ju Jung took second place and Shin-Young Yang placed
in third in Ladies 1,500 m. In Men’s 1,500 m, Turin
Games silver medalist, Ho-Suk Lee came in second, followed
by Kyung-Taek Song.
In Ladies 1,000 meter race, Seung-Hi Park of Korea beat Meng
Wang of China who took silver medal, and Pak’s team
mate, Ha-Ri Cho gained bronze.
Korea’s Si-Bak Sung captured gold and Yoon-Gy Kwak took
silver in men’s 1,000m. Charles Hamelin managed to win
the bronze for Canada in the heated race. Sung commented that
he was pleased to get the gold medal beating other skaters
who he respect.
On Sunday, China’s Meng Wang, Turin Olympics champion,
finally nailed down the ladies 500m title, leading the race
from the beginning. She beat Sea-Bom Shin of Korea in a close
second. Wang’s teammate, Nonnan Zhao also made a way
to the podium for the first time during this weekend by winning
bronze.
Following Saturday’s 1,000m victory, winning the gold
medal in Men’s 500 m was Si-Bak Sung of Korea. Canada’s
Francois-Louis Tremblay beat Yoon-Gy Kwak of Korea gaining
first silver for his country on Sunday. .
In the ladies’ competition for 1,000m (2), Sun-Yu Jin
and Shin-Young Yang of Korea took a one-two finish. The two
Korean skaters had a very close finish in what proved to be
a heated race. Yang Zhou of China had an unlucky fall after
having led a good race in the first half, eventually giving
out the bronze medal to Canada’s Amanda Overland.
The Men’s 1,000m (2) saw again the strength of Hyun-Soo
Ahn of Korea who took the title with the silver captured by
his teammate Kyung-Taek Song. The bronze medal went to Charles
Hamelin of Canada again, following the previous day.
In the beginning of 3,000 meter Ladies’ relay, China
and Korea were taking turns in the first and second places,
but from the middle of the race Korea kept a strong hold to
the first place. The heat was split into two groups with Korea
and China in the first pack, and Japan and Italy far behind
in the second pack. Another victory for Korea in the relay
seemed likely, but at the last moment after the three-lap-to
go signal, Korea’s 1,000 meter champion Jin had an unexpected
fall which meant her team had to settle for fourth place.
China, therefore took the first place followed by Italy in
second, and Japan in third.
The Men’s 5,000m relay capped the three-day World Cup
with true excitement involving the whole skate arena with
many spectators joined by skaters and officials in the endless
waves of cheers and hurrays.
Korea demonstrated outstanding strength here again with Saturday’s
three medalists in 1,500m distance competing to take the race.
Canada who finally earned second place contributed to the
exciting final competition, chasing Korea with a meter-close
gap at times during the race. The bronze medal winner, China
also highlighted the final race by showing neck-and-neck competition
against Italy before the finish.
The next Samsung ISU World Cup Short Track event takes place
on November 23-25 in Heerenveen, Netherlands.
Samsung ISU World Cup Short Track – Kobe (JPN)
Top 3 Results by Category
Ladies 500m
Name (ex: WANG, Meng) Nation
(ex: CHN)
1 WANG, Meng CHN
2 SHIN, Sae-Bom KOR
3 ZHAO, Nannan CHN
Men 500m
1 SUNG Si-Bak KOR
2 TREMBLAY, Francois-Louis CAN
3 KWAK, Yoon-Gy KOR
Ladies 1000m Day 1
1 PARK, Seung-Hi KOR
2 WANG, Meng CHN
3 CHO, Ha-Ri KOR
Ladies 1000m Day 2
1 JIN, Sun-Yu KOR
2 YANG, Shin-Young KOR
3 OVERLAND, Amanda CAN
Men 1000m Day 1
1 SUNG, Si-Bak KOR
2 KWAK, Yoon-Gy KOR
3 HAMELIN, Charles CAN
Men 1000m Day 2
1 AHN, Hyun-Soo KOR
2 SONG, Kyung-Taek KOR
3 HAMELIN, Charles CAN
Ladies 1500m
1 JIN, Sun-Yu KOR
2 JUNG, Eun-Ju KOR
3 YANG, Shin-Young KOR
Men 1500m
1 AHN, Hyun-Soo KOR
2 LEE, Ho-Suk KOR
3 SONG, Kyung-Taek KOR
Ladies Relay
1 CHN
2 ITA
3 JPN
Men Relay
1 KOR
2 CAN
3 CHN
|
