体坛英语资讯：Fresh Wang leads short-track skaters

After winning the gold medal at the 2006 Winter Olympic Games in Turin, China's short-track speed skater Wang Meng was considered to be a national hero.

But at the Asian Winter Games one year later, the feisty young Olympic champion attacked team coach Li Yan in the press and was banned from competing at the World Championships.

Now, a newly matured Wang has come back.

China's Wang Meng smiles at the press conference after she won the women's 500m short track speed skating at the 6th Winter Asian Games January 30, 2007. [Xinhua] Wang has once again proved herself to be a team leader after winning three gold medals at the opening stop of this season's ISU (International Skating Union) Short Track Speed Skating World Cup series in Harbin, the capital city of Northeast China's Heilongjiang Province.

"Now I'm the veteran on the team, so I want to do my best in each race to encourage my young teammates with my fighting spirit," said the 22-year-old Wang. "I will think more before I do things. I hope to set a good example for my fellow skaters."

Wang has indeed been a good example.

At the World Cup series stop in Harbin last weekend, Wang claimed three gold medals in the women's 500m, 1,000m and 3,000m relay, winning all the events she took part in and beating her arch-rival, South Korean Jin Sun-yu.

Encouraged by Wang's victory, her young teammates Zhou Yang and Liu Qiuhong grabbed two bronze medals in both women's 1,500m.

Wang's performance was highly praised by officials, as well as coach Li.

"Wang did an excellent job in the competition, and her performance has encouraged many of our young team members," said Li, who took control of the team last year after coaching America's 2006 Olympic gold-winner, Apolo Anton Ohno.

"She's the key member of the team. Her spirit in the races has set a good example and she acted as a stabilizing force for the team."

Li's comment confirmed Wang's leadership role on the team and also helped ease the tensions still simmering from the conflict earlier in the year.

In the 1,500m final at the Asian Winter Games in January, a race pitting three Chinese against three South Koreans, Wang remained the lone Chinese competing against the South Korean trio in the final laps, upset that her two teammates were unable to help her out.

After the race, Wang lashed out to journalists, exclaiming that she wanted "to go back to the provincial team after the Games because the national team doesn't suit me. I didn't feel much cooperation among teammates here".

Two months later, China's Winter Sports Administrative Center banned Wang from competing in the World Championships for her improper words against her team and her coach. She later apologized in a statement, saying "I have to pay for my unwise behavior during the Asian Games. It was irresponsible to make such remarks. My mistakes tarnished the image of the team. I'm so sorry. I accept the punishment imposed on me. I will learn lessons from the mistake and work even harder in the future."

After returning to the national team for training this May, Wang showed a renewed attitude. She pushed herself hard during the military training that began the session and worked even harder as the session wore on.

Her efforts have paid off so far this season and she has set her eyes on winning the overall gold at the World Championships next year. She plans to take even more medals at the 2010 Winter Olympic Games in Vancouver.

"My goal this season is the overall world champion title," said Wang, who picked up skating at the age of 9. "For my long-term goal, the 2010 Winter Games is the most important for me. All the races ahead of that will be good practice for my preparation."

Youngest team ever

With the retirements of so many veteran skaters, China will send its youngest team ever to compete in this season's competitions. Even though most of the skaters lack much experience in international competition, team officials are optimistic about the future.

"There is good competition, although some of the young skaters make some mistakes. But they are doing better and better," said Tong Lixin, director of the Short Track Speed Skating Department of China's Winter Sports Administrative Center. "The young team is worthy of expectation in the future."

Lacking skaters with strong overall strengths, the young Chinese team still lags behind its main rival, South Korea, especially on the men's side.

China's men's team didn't win any medals last weekend, while they watched their South Korean counterparts take all the gold and silver medals in most of the events.

"There is a big gap between our men's team and the teams of South Korea and Canada," said team leader Yang Zhanwu. "We hope we can make progress step by step and gradually close the gap.

"Short-track speed skating is a sport full of accidents. If the strength of skaters on the track are close to each other, everyone has the chance to win."

The World Cup series will move to Kobe, Japan, this weekend.