(LEAD) S. Korean short trackers get on ice for 1st time before Winter Asiad

All News 16:17 February 18, 2017

(ATTN: ADDS photos)
By Yoo Jee-ho

SAPPORO, Japan, Feb. 18 (Yonhap) -- South Korean short track speed skaters had their first on-ice training here Saturday before the Asian Winter Games.

The team has been allotted just 70 minutes of ice time at Makomanai Indoor Skating Rink before their competition starts Monday: 40 minutes Saturday and 30 more on Sunday.

The skaters landed in Sapporo Thursday night, and had to settle for an off-ice workout on Friday before hitting the ice Saturday.

South Korea is targeting a handful of medals in short track here. The country has won 25 short track gold medals over the previous seven Asian Games, more than any other nation.

South Korean short track speed skaters train at Makomanai Indoor Skating Rink in Sapporo, Japan, ahead of the Asian Winter Games on Feb. 18, 2017. (Yonhap)

Short track begins with the men's and women's 1,500m and heats for the men's 5,000m relay. Former Olympic champion Shim Suk-hee is the current world No. 1 in the women's 1,500m, while Lee Jung-su, a double gold medalist at the 2010 Olympics, is world No. 2 in the men's 1,500m thanks to two titles in the International Skating Union (ISU) World Cup Short Track Speed Skating season.

In other races, Choi Min-jeong, two-time world overall champion, is a favorite in the women's 1,000m, where she's the current No. 1. The women's 3,000m relay team has been nearly unbeatable this season, taking four titles at six ISU World Cups. She's also gunning for a 500m gold, with Fan Kexin of China expected to be another contender there.

Head coach Kim Sun-tae said since his skaters won't have much time in practice, their preparations will have to be "efficient."

Lee Jung-su, the men's captain, said Saturday's session went smoothly overall.

"The ice here isn't that bad," he said. "But because it was all too short, I didn't get completely acclimated to the ice. That bothers me a bit."

Lee said he'll have to learn the ice on the fly during heats, and added, "Even though the circumstances aren't ideal, we'll do the best we can."

Coach Kim also said the lack of on-ice training time shouldn't be an excuse for his athletes.

"We'll just focus on our own races, the way we've been doing all along."