Short track skating-Ahn speeds towards third gold

TURIN, Feb 25: South Korea's Ahn Hyun-soo sped into the semi-finals of the men's 500 metres in the short track skating at the Winter Olympics today, keeping alive his hopes of winning a third gold medal in these Games.

Compatriot and double silver medallist Lee Ho-suk lost his footing on a corner in his quarter-final and slammed into the side pads and out of contention.

Most excitement came in the third race, though, when Italian Roberto Serra tried to pass on the inside and was blocked by China's Li Haonan.

As he tried to push back in, he knocked into the Chinese, who span on his skates, crashed into Canada's Eric Bedard and then hit the wall.

Li was disqualified for obstruction.

American Apolo Anton Ohno, who has only won a bronze medal so far in Turin, also qualified easily for the semi-finals, which will be raced later in the evening.

Reuters