Troubled Wang stays away from national games

FOUR-TIME Winter Olympic champion Wang Meng, who was expelled from the national short track speedskating team last August after a drunken brawl with her coach, is in the United States and avoiding any contact with the ongoing national Winter Games in Changchun, Jilin Province.

The 27-year-old Wang has been banned from the 12th edition of the games, which got underway on Tuesday. She left for the US, apparently seeking a cure for her injured hand.

"Wang Meng kept a low profile this time. She told the local sports bureau of Heilongjiang province that she's not feeling well about her injured hand and went to the America to treat the injury," said a source close to the athlete.

"But in my opinion, she wants to get away from it all and calm herself down," the source added.

Wang Meng's father Wang Chunjiang told Xinhua that his daughter was in the US and dealing with some school issues while training with a local club. He said she will be back home before the Chinese New Year.

"Thank you all for your concern about Wang Meng. She is going through some difficult times alone and abroad. Hopefully we will see her for the Spring Festival," Wang Chunjiang said.