South Korea sweeps three speed skating golds at Asiad (updated)

South Korea picked up all the three titles on offer of the speed skating here on Wednesday, a day after Japan's four gold haul in speed skating at the Asian Winter Games.

Lee Seung-Hoon, winner of the mens's 5,000m, claimed the men's 10,000m gold medal in 13 minutes 18.56 seconds, beating Japan's Ryosuke Tsuchiya to second place with 5.18 seconds ahead. Another Japanese skater Seitaro Ichinohe came third in 13:44.73.

Lee then picked up his third gold medal at the Asiad as he helped South Korea win the men's team pursuit title with teammates Joo Hyong-jun and Kim Min-seok. Japan and Kazakhstan took the silver and bronze medals. China ranked fourth.

Lee is favored to win the mass start on Thursday, the final day of speed skating competition. He's the first triple medalist for South Korea at the eighth Asian Winter Games.

South Korea also clinched the women's 5,000m title as Kim Bo-Reum finished atop in 7:12.58. China's Han Mei came second with 3.36 seconds shy, while the bronze went to Japan's Mai Kiyama, who timed 7:16.24.

"I did expect a medal, but not a silver," said Han. "Japan and South Korea are both strong in speed skating, especially long distance. I was in the same group with Kim today, and the first half I did well, but in the second half I was much slower."

"Kim is much stronger than me. She is also the 3,000m silver medallist here," she added. "My aim is the Pyeongchang Winter Games and I hope I can have big progress by that time, like a four-to-five-second improvement, especially in 5,000m." Enditem