Wang Meng keeps far away from winter games

CHANGCHUN, Northeast China - Four-time Winter Olympic champion Wang Meng, who's expelled from the Chinese national short track speedskating team last August after an internal drunken brawl, exiled herself to the other end of the world while the national winter games was putting on show in Northeast China.

The 27-year-old Wang has been banned from the 12th edition of the Chinese top level multi-sport winter tournament, unveiled Tuesday evening, and to get away from the storm center, she flew to the United States two weeks ago, citing of looking for a cure to her injured hand there.

Last July, Wang, the most decorated winter sports athlete of China, hit the headlines for punching national team manager Wang Chunlu in the short track team's training base in eastern Qingdao after being criticized for an late returning night out with other five teammates.

The bad-tempered skater, who was said to be visibly drunk at the time of the incident, smashed furniture in her dormitory after the brawl and hurt her hands. She was suspended in August under an interim castigation.

Wang Chunlu, a native of northeastern Jilin province which is hosting the 12th national winter games, was also stellenbosched from the national team manager post.

"Wang Meng kept a low key this time. She told only 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 an anonymous source close to the athlete.

"But in my personal opinion, Wang might want to get away from all the chaos and to calm herself down," added the source.

Wang Meng's father Wang Chunjiang said that his daughter is now doing well in the US, dealing with some school issues, taking some rehab and training in a local club and will be back home ahead of the Chinese New Year.

"Thank you all for concerning about Wang Meng. She's experiencing some difficult time alone and abroad. Hopefully we could soon welcome her home for the Spring Festival," said Wang Chunjiang via a phone interview.

The 12th national winter games of China, featuring 1,067 athletes of 43 delegations to compete for 115 gold medals of 105 events from 12 disciplines in five sports, is set to be through to January 13 with skating events being held in capital city Changchun and skiing events in the Beidahu resort of Jilin city.