China wins pairs title at Four Continents figure skating
Updated: 2008-02-14 20:10
SEOUL - Pang Qing and Tong Jian rallied from behind to beat their fellow Chinese to take the pairs title at the ISU Four Continents Figure Skating Championships in Goyang, South Korea on Thursday.
 Gold medal winners Pang Qing (R) and Tong Jian of China pose for the photographers on the podium, February 14, 2008. [Agencies] |
The 2006 world champions, entering the free skating section over two points away from compatriots Zhang Dan and Zhang Hao, scored 119.63 points for an overall winning score of 187.33.
Zhang Dan and Zhang Hao picked up 111.39 points for a total of 181.84 to settle for the second place.
Pang/Tong were strong from the start, executing three early jumps and a throw triple jump. However, Zhang Dan struggled with her landings on the first double axel-triple toe loop combination and again on the throw triple jump.
Thus, Pang/Tong have now won three of China's seven pairs titles in the competition's 10-year history.
American Brooke Castile and Benjamin Okolski scored 103.55 in the free skating to finish third with an overall 159.99, giving them their first podium finish at the Four Continents.
In the ice dancing, Canadians Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir picked up 65.02 points in the original dance section Thursday, for an overall 103.24 going into Friday's free dance competition.
The score maintained their lead over American duo Meryl Davis and Charlie White, who managed 61.93 points Thursday to remain in second on 99.29.
The US tandem of Kimberly Navarro and Brent Bommentre kept third spot after getting 56.67 points in the original dance for 91.03 overall.
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