YONHAP NEWS

(LEAD) Ohno grabs gold in 500-meter short track speed skating

   GANGNEUNG, South Korea, March 8 (Yonhap) -- Olympic medalist Apolo Anton Ohno finished first in the men's 500-meter event of the world short track speed skating championship here on Saturday, bringing his United States squad its first gold medal of the competition.

   The reigning U.S. champion and two-time Olympic gold medalist finished the race in 42.568 seconds while Canadian Charles Hamelin came second with a time of 42.625. South Korea's Song Kyung-taek, who clinched a gold medal in the 1,500-meter event the previous day, finished third with a time of 42.632.

   In the women's 500-meter race, China swept the top two medals as Wang Meng came first in 43.888 while compatriot Liu Qiuhong completed the race with a time of 43.973. Canada's Kalyna Roberge came third, finishing in 44.018.

   The World Short Track Speed Skating Championship held in Gangneung, a coastal city 237 kilometers east of Seoul, started Friday for a three-day run, drawing some 150 players from over 30 countries, according to the International Skating Union.

   South Korea's three-time Olympic gold medalist, Ahn Hyun-soo, missed the annual competition due to an injury.

   samkim@yna.co.kr
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