China wins short track speed skating women's 3,000m relay at Asian Winter Games

HARBIN -- China claimed the gold medal in the short track speed skating women's 3,000m relay at the Harbin Asian Winter Games here on Sunday.

The Chinese quartet of Fan Kexin, Gong Li, Zhang Chutong and Wang Xinran finished first in four minutes and 11.371 seconds. Kazakhstan took the silver in 4:13.498, while the bronze went to Japan in 4:13.578.

Led by veterans Choi Min-jeong and Lee So-yeon alongside rising star Kim Gil-li, the Republic of Korea (ROK) dominated the early laps, setting a fierce pace, while China patiently looked for opportunities.

As the race progressed, China's Wang capitalized on a crucial baton exchange to surge into the lead. In the final leg, Gong once lost the top position but swiftly reclaimed the first place and secured victory for China. Meanwhile, the ROK's Kim slipped off the track, ultimately finishing fourth.

"It felt like a dream for me. Even now, when I look back at the moment I overtook my rival, I still find it hard to believe," Gong said after the race, adding that the relay gold is a great reward at her maiden Asian Winter Games.

"This victory strengthened our confidence for the upcoming Winter Olympics and will motivate us to fight even harder in future international competitions," added the 24-year-old.

China's veteran skater Fan kissed the ice after crossing the finish line. "This is my last Asian Winter Games, and I feel reluctant to say goodbye," she said.

Fan also credited her younger teammates for their trust and teamwork. "They gave me so much confidence, because trust between teammates is the hardest thing to build. Winning this gold proves our team's overall strength - only when every individual is strong can the whole team keep improving."

In the men's 5,000m relay, China's Lin Xiaojun was fouled by the ROK's Park Ji-won and then slipped out of the track at the last bend of the final leg. Kazakhstan won the gold in 6:59.415, while Japan and China took silver and bronze, respectively. The ROK was disqualified with a penalty.

"I did my best, and I'm incredibly grateful for the support from so many fans, which also brought some pressure," said Lin. "I look forward to competing with Park in the future and presenting a strong show at the Winter Olympics next year."

Also on Sunday, the ROK's skaters secured a 1-2 finish in both the men's and women's 1,000m finals.