[Korea View] Short Track in Harbin, the Unfinished Drama

[Korea View] Short Track in Harbin, the Unfinished Drama
Regret over Men’s and Women’s Relay Collisions, Yet Choi Min-jeong’s Triple Crown Shines

 

Min Jeong Choi ( https://n.news.naver.com/article/079/0003989783 )

 

Recently at the Harbin Winter Asian Games, the Korean short track national team showcased remarkable performances but also faced unexpected turns. Both the men’s and women’s relay teams, considered strong favorites, encountered critical collisions and penalties that cost them medals. Why did these potential gold-medal races end up with such dramatic twists? By reviewing the data summary (CSV) and the connected news articles, we can see that intense competition and a few controversial rulings are the primary factors. Meanwhile, the standout news included Choi Min-jeong’s victory in three events and the men’s 1000m gold medal sweep, proving the strength of Korean short track once again.

 

Both the men’s 5000m and women’s 3000m relay teams clashed with Chinese skaters, which resulted in a loss of medal opportunities. In the men’s relay final, Team Korea finished second but received a penalty on the last lap, leading to disqualification. For the women’s relay, Kim Gil-li collided with a Chinese skater in the final stretch, slipping to fourth place. On the other hand, the individual races provided a brighter picture: Choi Min-jeong grabbed gold in the women’s 500m and 1000m, plus the mixed relay, achieving a triple crown. The men’s 1000m final also saw Jang Seong-woo and Park Ji-won clinch gold and silver, respectively, with Park already having secured the 1500m and mixed relay titles—both athletes thus joined the multi-medalist ranks.

• Korea’s Short Track Medal Tally (Men & Women, Including Relays)
  • Gold Medals: 6 total
  • Silver Medals: 4 total
  • Bronze Medals: 3 total
  • Men’s 5000m & Women’s 3000m Relays: No medals

On the 9th, at the Harbin Heilongjiang Skating Training Center in China, during the men’s 5000m short track relay final at the Winter Asian Games, Park Ji-won and China’s Lin Xiaojun (Korean name Lim Hyo-jun) lose their balance while battling for position. https://n.news.naver.com/article/658/0000096650 ​

 

Among all athletes, Choi Min-jeong drew the most attention. She took gold in the mixed relay, the 500m, and 1000m, becoming the first Korean woman to win the 500m at the Winter Asian Games. However, the women’s 3000m relay ended in disappointment due to the late collision. In the men’s races, Park Ji-won dueled with Lin Xiaojun (Korean name Lim Hyo-jun), demonstrating top-tier competitiveness but ultimately could not avoid a penalizing judgment in the relay final.

 

Terminology

• In-course: The inside part of the track that skaters often target for faster speeds or overtaking.
• Penalty: A ruling for infractions such as obstructing or colliding with other skaters, often resulting in disqualification (DQ) or a drop in placement.

Despite the disappointment in both relays, Korea still dominated the individual events, securing six gold medals overall—meeting the team’s pre-tournament goal. This performance once again highlighted the nation’s status as a short track powerhouse. Looking ahead to world championships and future Olympic Games, if the team refines its tactics and on-ice adaptability, there’s every reason to anticipate continued success.

 

This article was written with AI assistance.

 

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