Choi Min-jeong began the World Cup season in Calgary ©Getty Images

Defending women's overall champion Choi Min-jeong began this year's International Skating Union (ISU) Short Track World Cup season with a pair of victories as qualification rounds started the action in Calgary.

The 18-year-old South Korean won her 1500 metres heat in a time of 2min 29.325sec to advance into tomorrow's semi-finals at the Olympic Oval.

The seven-time world champion then also advanced over 1000m, clocking 1:32.005 as she again won her heat.

It was also a good day on home ice for Canadian Marianne St-Gelais who progressed with heat victories over 500 and 1000m.

Over the shorter distance she was a heat winner in 43.152sec, with the triple Olympic silver medallist again coming first in the 1000m in 1:31.968.

Viktor Ahn won over 500m as competition began in Calgary ©Getty Images
Viktor Ahn won over 500m as competition began in Calgary ©Getty Images

Britain's Elise Christie, who has eight World Championship medals, didn't record a time in her opening 500m heat but went through at the second attempt by winning her second race in 42.761sec.

Six-times Olympic champion Viktor Ahn won his 500m heat in men's competition, with the South Korean turned Russian clocking 41.305sec.

Canada's Charles Hamelin also progressed over the distance, with the three-time Olympic gold medallist recording 41.210sec.

In the men's 5,000m relay, Canada's quartet progressed with the quickest time of 6:32.955.

South Korea were the fastest qualifiers in the women's 3,000m relay, getting home in a time of 4:07.59.

The first finals will be held tomorrow, in the men's and women's 500m and 1500m