[Olympics] Hwang Daeheon and Lee Junseo Disqualified... Korea Cries, China Smiles (Comprehensive)

Referee Team Declares Foul for Lane Change After Video Review
Chinese Players Advance to Finals Instead... Park Jang-hyeok Suffers Left Hand Injury

[Image source=Yonhap News]

It's just too much. The men's short track team was eliminated from the men's 1000m semifinals at the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics due to a questionable judgment.

Hwang Daeheon (Gangwon Province Office) crossed the finish line first in the men's 1000m semifinal heat 1 held on the 7th at the Capital Indoor Stadium in Beijing, China. With four laps remaining, he skillfully attacked the inside lane, overtaking China's Ren Ziwei and Li Wenlong at once. Hwang Daeheon comfortably maintained the lead and crossed the finish line. However, the referees reviewed the video and issued a penalty. They judged that he changed lanes too late while moving into the lead. Instead of Hwang Daeheon, Ren Ziwei and Li Wenlong were granted the right to advance to the final.

Lee Junseo, who competed in semifinal heat 2, also suffered a similar bitter outcome. He crossed the finish line second with a smart race but was penalized and eliminated. The referees judged that Lee Junseo committed a lane change violation during contact with Hungary's Sandor Sarlos Liu. As a result, China's Wu Dajing advanced to the final in second place. Two Korean athletes were disqualified, allowing two Chinese athletes to advance to the final. After the race, Hwang Daeheon left the mixed zone saying only, "I'll do it later." Lee Junseo also left the stadium silently with his head bowed.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Earlier, Park Janghyuk (Sports Toto), who had secured a spot in the semifinals, was unable to compete in the final due to an injury to his left hand during the quarterfinals. With three laps remaining, he collided with Italy's Pietro Sighel, who aggressively cut into the inside lane. Losing his balance, he fell and then collided again with China's Wu Dajing who was following behind. Park Janghyuk tried to get up and continue the race but sat down clutching his left hand in pain. The referee called medical staff, and he was soon carried off the field on a stretcher. Although Park Janghyuk was given an advancement, his left hand was torn, and he was taken to the hospital.