China's first ever Olympic speed skating champion Zhang Hong failed to win the women's 1,000m gold at the Asian Winter Games in Sapporo, Japan on Monday.

Zhang, 28, clocked one minute and 15.75 seconds to finish third in the final, while Japan's Nao Kodairo, who had won all six World Cup events this season in the 500m, claimed the gold in an Asian record time of 1:15.19. Minho Takagi of Japan came second in 1:15.31.

"I don't want to find any excuse for myself," said Zhang, who won China's first ever speed skating Olympic gold at Sochi 2014 in her first Olympic Games with a time of 1:14.02.

"I have been out of form in the whole season, but I had expected a better finish," she said. "I really wanted to win, and I felt so depressed at the medal ceremony. But I think I still have a year, and I can win it back at the Olympic Games next year."

Zhang will compete in the 500m and 1,500m on Tuesday.

"I will try my best tomorrow," she said. "I will adjust myself to the best level, mentally. Physically I am a little tired, but I think it is normal.

"Actually I was 1.5 seconds slower than Kodairo at the World Championships a week ago, but today I was only a half second shy. I can’t be always at the peak, so I accept the result today, and I hope I can be better in the future," she said.

Kodaira claimed the women's 1,000m silver medal at the ISU's World Single Distances Speed Skating Championships, adding to her first world gold medal in the 500m. Zhang took the seventh.

"There were no European skaters here today but I was focused on maintaining the same level of motivation. I was able to keep going till the end," said Kodaira, who will also compete in the 500m on Tuesday.

"I think we will have the 1,000m first next year at the Olympics too, so there are things I can learn here, and I'm looking forward to it," she said.

(Source: Xinhua)