(Photo source: Sina)

CRI Special: 2006 Turin Winter Games

Chinese men and women speed skaters suffered similar fortune in short track speed skating on Saturday as both of the teams had only one skater finalist.

Wang Meng became the only Chinese skater qualifying for women's 1,500-meter final after Yang Yang (A) and Cheng Xiaolei were unexpectedly eliminated in preliminaries.

Wang Meng was surrounded by three South Koreans in the final. When there was only one lap left, South Korea's Byun Chun-Sa deliberately blocked Wang Meng from making a sprint and was judged illegal. Wang Meng won the bronze medal.

After the match Wang Meng said she would at least win a silver if she was not blocked. She added she was still confident of the upcoming competitions and her goal is to win the gold medals in 1,000-meter race and 3,000-meter relay.

In men's race, the only Chinese skater entering the 1,000-meter final, Li Ye, failed to balance his physical energy. After leading first three laps he couldn't keep the same speed and finished the fifth.

On the medals tally, China has moved down to the 13th place. The United States, Germany and Russia are the top three.

On Sunday, the ninth day of the Turin Olympics, four medals are on offer. Bronze medallist in 500-meter speed skating, Ren Hui, will seek her second medal in Turin. World champion Li Nina along with her three teammates will participate in the preliminary of aerials in freestyle skiing.

(By CRI Reporter Wei Xiangnan)