Li Ye wins men's 1,500 meters short track speed skating gold

QIQIHAR, Northeast China, Jan. 25 (Xinhua) -- Li Ye, men's 500 and 1,500 meters short track speed skating bronze medalist at the 6th Asian Winter Games, won men's 1,500 meters gold at the 11th National Winter Games here on Friday.

Changchun's Li Ye, 24, clocked 2:25.277 for the top honor. Song Weilong from PLA got the silver in 2:25.346 and Changchun's Li Haonan finished third in 2:25.443.

Li started slowly, but he began to speed up with only three laps to go. In the last but one lap, he sprinted past the other skaters and managed to cross the finish line first.

"Everyone has his own tactics. I do not know what tactics the others use, but I believe I could win if I sprint with three laps left," said Li.

"I see the hope of China's short track speed skating. I will try my best to lead the young skaters to achieve good results in international competitions."

Li got his first Winter Games gold at the pursuit race Thursday. After taking part in four more short track events at the Winter Games, Li will leave for Beijing on Monday and go to Canada Tuesday for the fifth stop of the short track speed skating World Cup.