Chinese Wang Fei competes in the women's 3,000m speed skating race at the 6th Asian Winter Games in Changchun, capital of northeast China's Jilin Province, Jan. 29, 2007. Wang Fei on Monday won the gold medal of the event, the first of the eight-day Winter Asiad, opened on Jan. 28. (Xinhua Photo/Lan Hongguang)

Chinese sensation Wang Fei pulled off the opening victory in the women's 3,000m speed skating for the host at the 6th Asian Winter Games in Changchun, capital of northeast China's Jilin Province on Monday.

In the battle vying for the first gold of the Games, newly-crowned Asian all-around champion Wang, among the last two to compete, clocked four minutes 13.08 seconds to win the title, beating the previous Asian record of 4:15.86.

"It was really out of expectation," said a delighted deputy team leader Li Ming.

"We made thorough preparation for the competition and Wang performed brilliantly today," she added.

Japanese Masako Hozumi finished second in 4:15.42, also surpassing the previous Asian best set by her compatriot Nani Nemoto in 2005.

Maki Tabata from Japan settled for the bronze in 4:17.00.

Editor: Donald