Teenager takes gold for second consecutive day at Short Track World Cup

SEOUL, Dec. 21 (Yonhap) -- South Korean teenager Choi Min-jeong grabbed a gold medal for the second consecutive day at the International Skating Union (ISU) Short Track Speed Skating World Cup on home ice on Sunday.

Choi, 16, captured the gold medal in the women's 1,500 ｍeters on the fourth leg of the World Cup series at Mokdong Ice Rink in western Seoul. Choi came in 2:31.246, while Han Yutong of China finished second in 2:31.357. Another South Korean, Noh Do-hee, came in third place at 2:31.848.

Shim Suk-hee, a triple medalist at the 2014 Winter Games and a heavy favorite in the 1,500ｍ final, withdrew from the race with the flu, leaving the door open for other skaters. Choi took full advantage, charging out from the middle of the pack with two laps left and edging out Han to the finish.

On Saturday, Choi had won the gold in the 3,000ｍ race. In her first senior World Cup season, Choi has now won four individual gold medals, along with three relay gold medals.

In the men's 3,000ｍ, Lee Jung-su led the South Korean podium sweep, finishing first in 5:10.152. Kwak Yoon-gy was second in 5:17.309 and Sin Da-woon was third in 5:17.418.

Seo Yi-ra was the other South Korean champion on Sunday, as he claimed the men's 500ｍ gold medal in 41.436 seconds. Sjinkie Knegt of the Netherlands was right behind Seo for second in 41.549, followed by Charles Hamelin of Canada at 41.583.

In the women's 500ｍ, South Korea's Jeon Ji-soo finished second in 43.802, behind the Chinese champion Fan Kexin, who came in 43.747.

South Korea's World Cup winning streak in the women's 3,000ｍ relay was snapped at three, as the team of Jeon Ji-soo, Lee Eun-byul, Kim A-lang and Choi Min-jeong finished second to China in 4:16.912. The Chinese finished first in 4:16.782.

The South Korean men's 5,000ｍ relay team finished out of medals in fourth place, as the Netherlands took the gold in 7:01.210.

jeeho@yna.co.kr
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