The Korea Herald

피터빈트

Ex-short track world champ Noh to miss World Cup with shoulder injury

By 김영원

Published : Oct. 1, 2013 - 21:12

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   (Yonhap) -- Former short track world champion Noh Jin-kyu will miss the upcoming World Cup event here with a shoulder injury, skating officials said on Tuesday.

   The Korea Skating Union (KSU) said Noh, the 2011 men's overall world champion, will sit out the second leg of the World Cup, organized by the International Skating Union (ISU), from Thursday to Sunday at Mokdong Ice Rink in Seoul.

   The 21-year-old captured the men's 1,500-meter title at the first World Cup event in Shanghai last month, but according to the KSU, Noh injured his left shoulder in a collision with the runner-up, Charles Hamelin of Canada, during the race. Noh was forced to return home to treat his shoulder before the end of the competition.

   Noh was the only South Korean man to win a gold medal in Shanghai, and Lee Han-bin was the only other medalist, taking third place in the 1,000m. The United States edged out South Korea for the 5,000m relay gold medal.

   South Korean women fared much better in Shanghai. Shim Suk-hee won the 1,000m and 1,500m races, while Kim A-lang finished second in both races. Park Seung-hi was the runner-up in the 500m and the South Korean team won the 3,000m relay over China and Italy.

   Noh finished third in the South Korean Olympic trials this year and will only compete in the 5,000m relay at the Sochi Winter Games next February.

   The World Cup season's final two legs, to be held in Italy and Russia next month, will be the more crucial races, since they will double as the Winter Olympics qualifying events. Results at those events will determine how many skaters each country can send to individual races in Sochi.

   An official with the KSU said Noh should be able to recover in time for the final two World Cup events.