Both Men’s and Women’s Teams Clash with Chinese Skaters in Final Lap
Kim Gilli Falls, Park Jiwon Disqualified: No Medals Won
Choi Minjung Wins Three Golds... Park Jiwon, Jang Sungwoo, and Kim Gilli Each Take Two Titles
Korean short track speed skating faced disappointing outcomes in the final relay events for both men and women, resulting in neither team winning a medal. However, the national team concluded the 2025 Harbin Winter Asian Games by securing a record-high six gold medals.
On the 9th, at the multipurpose hall of the Heilongjiang Ice Training Center in Harbin, China, the short track relay races for men and women took place. The women's team finished in 4th place, while the men's team was disqualified, failing to capture any medals.
Both teams’ final skaters, Park Ji-won and Kim Gilli, engaged in fierce physical battles with China’s last skaters Li Xiaojun and Gong Li for the gold medal, but the results were disappointing. Kim Gilli fell, and Park Ji-won was disqualified.
On the 9th, at the multipurpose hall of the Heilongjiang Ice Training Center in Harbin, China, Kim Gilli, who ran as the last runner in the women's 3000m relay final of the Harbin Winter Asian Games short track, expressed regret over the race result after falling during a physical struggle with Gong Li of China in the final lap. Photo by Yonhap News Agency
In the women's 3000m relay, Korea raced in the order of Choi Min-jung, Kim Gilli, Lee So-yeon, and Kim Geon-hee. From the second leg with Choi Min-jung, Korea took the lead. However, they lost the lead to China during the exchange with seven laps remaining. Korea regained the lead when switching from Choi Min-jung to Kim Gilli with two laps left. But with one and a half laps remaining, Gong Li cut inside, and while Kim Gilli leaned inward to block, she fell. There was no special ruling on the physical contact, and ultimately China, Kazakhstan, and Japan took the medals.
In the men's 5000m relay, Korea, China, Japan, and Kazakhstan competed fiercely.
Korea raced in the order of Park Jang-hyeok, Park Ji-won, Jang Sung-woo, and Kim Tae-seong. They took the lead from the start. China maintained 4th place, aiming for a late surge. China moved up to 3rd place with 20 laps remaining and to 2nd place with 18 laps left. A fierce battle for the lead between Korea and China followed.
China took the lead during the exchange with five laps remaining. Korea was switching from Jang Sung-woo to Kim Tae-seong at that moment. Following Kim Tae-seong, Park Jang-hyeok handed over to the final skater Park Ji-won in 2nd place.
With one lap left, Park Ji-won cut inside and succeeded in overtaking, but Lin Xiaojun immediately cut inside again. With half a lap remaining, the two engaged in an intense physical battle. In the final corner, Lin Xiaojun fell, and as Park Ji-won was pushed outward and lost speed, Kazakhstan, who was in 3rd place, crossed the finish line first. Fortunately, Park Ji-won held on and finished second. However, after the race, a video review was conducted, and regarding the physical battle between Park Ji-won and Lin Xiaojun, only Park Ji-won was disqualified, resulting in Korea failing to win a medal.
Park Ji-won (left) and China's Lin Xiaojun (Korean name Im Hyo-jun) are fiercely competing for position in the men's 5000m relay final of the Winter Asian Games short track at the Heilongjiang Ice Training Center in Harbin, China, on the 9th. Photo by Yonhap News
Korea finished the competition with six gold medals, four silver medals, and three bronze medals. Securing six out of nine gold medals marked their best performance ever.
Korean short track also won six gold medals at the 1999 Gwangju and 2003 Aomori Games, but at those times, there were ten gold medals available in short track, including the individual 3000m events for men and women. Since this competition had only nine gold medals in total, Korea’s achievement is effectively the best in history.
Choi Min-jung won three gold medals, while Park Ji-won, Jang Sung-woo, and Kim Gilli each won two gold medals.
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