(Sports focus) Short-track speedskater Fan vows to win Olympic gold in Pyeongchang 2018

For most athletes competing in the Chinese National Winter games, winning two gold medals and setting a national record is already big success. But short-track speedskater Fan Kexin expects more.

The 22-year-old Olympic silver medalist clocked two minutes 16.024 seconds to win the women's 1,500-meter gold medal here on Thursday, surpassing the previous world record by more than half a second.

Fan, who claimed the 1,000m silver medal at Sochi Winter Games in 2014, made a strong sprint in the last lap and leapfrogged teenager skater Li Jinyu to grab the title.

"I really did my utmost," said the 22-year-old Fan. "It's my first title at the National Winter Games. I think I might be too fast over the last three laps."

She maintained her good form in the following 500m race, her signature event, where she triumphed with ease in 43.036 seconds.

Fan also broke the national record for the 1,000m event in Tuesday's preliminaries.

"I am happy to win two titles here," she said. "I didn't expect it before I came. About my time, I didn't think too much, as I just wanted to show my training level."

Fan could have won an Olympic gold in Sochi where she was tipped a hot favorite, but she accidentally fell in the 500m final before teammate Li Jianrou took the title.

"It has been two years since the Sochi Games. It is not a regret, actually it is a lesson," Fan said.

"I have set the target of winning an Olympic title a long time ago. Failing to win it in Sochi let me know that I still need to practise and need to improve. Of course, I want to win a gold in Pyeongchang 2018."

Two-time Olympic champion Zhou Yang was heavily favored to win the 1,500m, but she fell after four laps and failed to make the final.

Zhou watched Fan's two finals and gave her a big hug after the 500m final.

"She encouraged me before the race, and she congratulated me after I won," Fan said. "I really wanted to hug her as today is a long day and we are both tired."

"She was a little sobbing after the 1,500m semi. I think she really wanted to win," added Fan. "All the athletes have prepared a long time for the competition, but there are always accidents in the race. This is short-track."

Zhou looked a little disappointed but accepted the results anyhow.

"I was well prepared, but in short-track, accident happens all the time," said Zhou. "I will also take part in the 1,000m and 3,000m relay and I hope I can achieve good results."

Fan will also compete the 1,000m and 3,000m relay on Friday.

In the men's finals, Sochi Olympic runners-up Wu Dajing and Han Tianyu won the 500m and 1,500m titles respectively.

The 13th National Winter Games, which kicked off Wednesday, will run through Jan. 30. It is for the first time since the winter sporting gala was introduced in 1959 that the quadrennial event has been held outside the northeastern provinces of Heilongjiang and Jilin. Endit