Olympic champion Yang Yang (A) of China grabbed her first title of the season in the women's 1,500m race in a World Cup short-track speedskating on November 26.

American Apolo Anton Ohno triumphed in the men's 1,500m final.

Returning from one year's rest, Yang clocked two minutes 36.521 seconds for the gold but her compatriot Meng Wang, top-ranked at 1,500, was disqualified for interfering with another skater despite crossing the line first.

With the disqualification, Allison Baver was moved into second place in 2:36.681, and Japan's Yuka Kamino third in 2:36.790.

Yang put an end to China's gold medal drought at the Winter Olympic Games by winning the 500m and 1,000m short-track speed skating titles in Salt Lake City in February, 2002.

2002 Olympic winner Ohno relied on his trademark style of starting back in the pack and passing skaters on the final laps, winning his second men's 1,500 of the season in 2:20.061.

Canada's Mathieu Turcotte (2:20.118) and Charles Hamelin (2:20.196) rounded out the top three in the 1,500.

Olympic bronze medalist speedskater Rusty Smith injured his back and neck when he slammed into a wall during a qualifying heat.

Smith, who finished third in the 500m at the 2002 Salt Lake City Games, was taken to a hospital, but organizers said he was able to walk out of the hospital after being checked.

Smith was trying to pass another skater during a heat for Friday night's 1,500-meter race. When the blade of another racer's skate hit his, he slipped and slid into the wall surrounding the rink, which is usually used for hockey.