Short track skating star Wang Meng is planning to put the skids under archrivals South Korea at the upcoming Winter Asian Games, to ensure she is in pole position at the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympic Games.

"The Asian Winter Games is good practice for Vancouver," said Wang, who won the 500m gold medal at the Turin Winter Olympic Games last year.

"I'd only call it a successful practice if I beat the Koreans and win gold.

"I'm fully confident in the 500m race, but in the other events the Koreans are stronger than us," she added.

Wang admitted that her form has dipped while she has tried to adapt to new coach Li Yan.

"I have not accustomed myself to the new coach," said Wang. "I will try to adjust during the Games."

After the Turin Games, Li, the former coach of the US short track speed skating team, was invited back to China to train the Chinese team.

Over the last nine months Li has led the young Chinese team to four stops of the ISU Short Track Speed Skating World Cup, but he admitted that the Asian Games is a different challenge.

"At the Asian Games, we have to face the South Koreans alone, without other European and American contenders, which will be even more difficult," said Li. "We will try to do our best, ensuring victory at the short distances and striving for good results in the other events."

South Korea will send their strongest team to Changchun, including Olympic gold medalists Jin Sun-yu and Ahn Hyun-Soo.

Like the short track skaters, the speed skating team will also be looking for medals on home ice by beating archrivals South Korea, and Japan.

"Japan will be the biggest threat to the Chinese team, especially in long distance events," said Xiao Hanzhang, head coach of the Chinese speed skating team.

With five gold medals, the Japanese team, headed by Tabata Maki and Hirako Hiroki, became the biggest winners in the Asian Regional Qualifying Competition for the ISU World All-Round Speed Skating Championships 2007 earlier this month.

The Chinese team won just three gold medals in the qualifying competitions.

"However, that event was just a beginning," said Xiao. "The real competition will be at the Asian Winter Games."

Injury woes

With veteran Wang Manli likely out with a knee injury, the pressure will be on youngsters to perform well.

Ren Hui, the 2006 Turin Winter Olympic bronze medalist, Wang Beixing and Wang Fei are the main contenders.

"I hope to win the gold medal at the Asian Games," said 23-year-old Ren. "I don't want to let the home crowd down."

But Ren was careful not to be too over-confident. "My strongest event is short distance, which can be full of accidents," said Ren. "I will do my best."

Wang Beixing, who ranked eighth at the Turin Games, is looking for a medal this time around.

"I hope to make a breakthrough in my technique," she said.

Wang Fei, the only Chinese to qualify for the ISU World All-Round Speed Skating Championships in February, was not satisfied with her achievement in the Asian Regional Qualifying Competition. She has set her eyes on the Asian Games.

"My problem was consistency," she said. "Anyway, I hope I can do my best in the Winter Asian Games and fully rival Japanese and South Korean skaters."

Although listed in the delegation for the Asian Games, 33-year-old Wang Manli may withdraw due to her injuries.

"I have rested for three months, but I am not sure whether I can take part in the Asian Games," she said. "I think I will have only recovered 60-70 percent by then.

"The young skaters are young and full of vitality. The have improved fast in terms of technique, and all they lack now is experience. But I believe that they won't let us down in Changchun."

Wang, who narrowly missed out on the gold medal at the Turin Games, has refused to hang up her skates, saying she will go for gold once more in Vancouver.

"I failed in Turin because of high psychological pressure. But now I have learnt to deal with people's expectations and I am looking forward to winning the 2010 Olympic Games."

On the men's side, hopes rest on 32-year-old Yu Fengtong.

"In short distance races it all depends what happens on the day," said Yu. "I will try my best to win."

(China Daily January 25, 2007)