Chinese Wang Meng was crowned at the women's 500 meters race with a new world record here on Saturday at the China Open speed skating event.

Wang, the Turin Olympic gold medalist, got off to a fast start and clinched the gold medal in 42.609 seconds, chopping 0.516 seconds off her world mark set at the season's opener in Salt Lake City.

Wang's compatriot Liu Qiuhong grabbed the silver in 43.042 and Tatiana Borodulina of Australia beat host skater Fu Tianyu in 43.595 to wrap up the bronze.

The season's third stop of the six-leg World Cup series raised its curtain in the Capital Gymnasium on Friday. It attracted 179 skaters from 28 countries and regions, featuring five men and five women's events.

(Xinhua News Agency November 29, 2008)