| Wang: Teamwork may change resultBy Lei Lei (China Daily)
 Updated: 2006-02-20 06:54
 
 
 TURIN: After Wang Meng, China's new short track speed skating star and 500m 
gold medallist, captured the bronze medal at the women's 1,500m race on 
Saturday, she vowed to reach the top of the podium again in upcoming Olympic 
events. 
 Despite coming up short of a gold in her second Olympic final, the 
20-year-old developed maturity on the ice and promised to break the South 
Koreans' dominance in the long-distance races four years later in the Vancouver 
Games. 
 "Facing three South Koreans in the final alone, I realized that team work is 
very important in the short track competition," Wang said. "I'm sure that in the 
2010 Games, the podium of short track speed skating won't be dominated by South 
Koreans again." 
 As for the upcoming 1,000m and 3,000m relay, Wang said the goal of winning 
them all would not change. 
 "I will try to aim for all gold, especially in the relay race," Wang said. 
"The gold medal of the relay is the one that I want most. I will fight with all 
my efforts to win this team gold for my country with my team-mates." 
 As both of her team-mates Yang Yang (A) and Cheng Xiaolei failed to reach the 
final, Wang had to battle her way through the pincer attack of three South 
Korean skaters during the 1,500m final. 
 Being the fourth one to cross the finishing line following three South 
Koreans, Wang was awarded the bronze medal to deny the Koreans a medal sweep 
after Byun Chun-sa was disqualified for impeding Wang. 
 Jin Sun-yu and Choi Eun-kyung of South Korea took the gold and silver 
respectively. 
 "In the last lap when I was in the third, I found the opportunity to surpass 
the two ahead, but Byun touched the backside of my blade on purpose to protect 
her leading compatriots, so I lost the chance," Wang explained. "It was a tough 
night for me. If more Chinese reach the finals, the result would be different." 
 Participating in her first Olympic Games, Wang won the women's 500m race last 
Thursday, bringing China its first gold medal in the Turin Games. 
 But Wang had to skate alone in the 1,500m final. Although her coach had 
reservations about her performance, Wang maintained a clear mind and managed to 
perform her best. 
 "When both of the other two team-mates went out of the final, I felt a little 
bit nervous," Wang recalled. "But I knew that all I could do is to go all out in 
the final. I told myself to fully concentrate on my way, and I did it." 
 
 (China Daily 02/20/2006 page5)  
 
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