By Sang-hee Han
Staff Reporter
South Korea's short track speed skating stars, Ahn Hyun-soo and Jin Sun-yu will not make the short track world championships held here due to injuries, causing the team worries.
According to Ahn's management, IB Sports, the 22-year-old Turin Olympic gold medallist will not be able to join the team because of a knee fracture.
``He had a reexamination, but the doctors said that it would be difficult for him to compete,'' IB Sports said.
Ahn was looking forward to winning six consecutive victories and beating China's Yang Yang A's record this year. He will be concentrating on his medical treatment and training.
The women's short track team is also in desperation as their 20-year-old Jin Sun-yu will also drop out of the tournament.
``Jin injured her ankle during a rather aggressive match with the Chinese players at the World Cup Short Track this month. She returned home in a wheel chair and wasn't even able to put her skates on,'' Song Jae-geun, the team's coach said to Yonhap News Agency.
Considering her condition, the coach and Jin made the decision to not attend the tournament and work on healing her ankle as soon as possible.
``She tried putting on her skates after medical treatment, but it was still uncomfortable,'' Song said.
Meanwhile, Apolo Anton Ohno, who stunned the nation with his ``Hollywood action'' at the 2002 Salt Lake City Winter Olympics, will return to Seoul as a member of the United States team.
``Ohno will arrive at the Incheon International Airport on March 2 and will immediately head to Gangneung, Gangwon Province, to attend the world championships,'' the Korea Skating Union (KSU) said.
It will be his first visit for a tournament in 29 months, following the 2005-2006 International Skating Union (ISU) World Cup Short Track.
The U.S. short track champion has been busy with other matters, such as appearing as a contestant and eventually winning first place in the famed television program, ``Dancing with the Stars.''