Netherlands breaks mixed team relay WR at ISU World Short Track Championships in Beijing

BEIJING, March 14 (Xinhua) -- The Netherlands clocked two minutes and 35.339 seconds to refresh the 2,000m mixed team relay world record in the event's quarterfinals at the three-day ISU World Short Track Championships in Beijing which kicked off on Friday.

The previous world record of 2:35.427 was set by Canadian skaters in the same venue the Capital Indoor Stadium during the ISU Short Track Speed Skating World Tour on December 6.

Dutch quartet of Xandra Velzeboer, Michelle Velzeboer, Jens van 't Wout, and Teun Boer amazed the audience again on the opening day of the tournament, while the home team China failed to reach the semifinals as Sun Long fell down during the race.

24-year-old Sun was the only Chinese to secure a berth in the men's 500m quarterfinals on Friday, while Chinese skaters were in good form in events including the men's 1,500m, women's 3,000m relay and men's 5,000m relay.

Chinese veteran Fan Kexin sailed into the women's 500m quarterfinals together with her teammate Wang Xinran.

Fan said after the race, "Mistakes make athletes grow faster, and everyone has to go through the process. In any case, our whole team take on the responsibility together." ■