Veteran pairs to battle it out for prestigious crown on the rink

CHANGCHUN, Jilin province - China's top figure skaters are looking forward to recapturing their top form at the 12th National Winter Games in this northeastern city on Tuesday.

The 11-day quadrennial winter sports gala includes five sports, 12 disciplines and 105 events, with skating to be held in Changchun and skiing at the Beidahu ski resort.

The figure skating competitions, which start on Wednesday, will be highlighted by the national pairs event.

Vancouver Winter Olympic runners-up Pang Qing and Tong Jian will return to the rink after an eight-month rest and are expected to claim their first national title ahead of two-time national champions Zhang Dan and Zhang Hao.

"We have appeared at two national games, but we haven't won a championship. So, we will try again with our best effort because, at our age (32), we can't wait for the next games," said Tong, who has won two World Championship titles with Pang.

"There are a lot fans who have high hopes for us, and we also want to show what we can do," said Tong, who will partner with Pang at the 14th World Championships in France in March.

"The 12th Winter Games is our first tournament of the year. Some problems are bound to appear and we will solve them after the event as we prepare for the Worlds."

Zhang and Zhang also want to claim their third national title, though Zhang Hao has struggled with injuries for some time.

The 27-year-old's injuries to his waist, knee and arms have forced the pair to give up their most difficult lifts. The growth of Zhang Dan, currently 1.7 meters, has also posed problems.

Despite the difficulties, Zhang Hao is optimistic about their chances at the National Winter Games.

"Every athlete wants to be champion, and the results depend on our on-spot performances," Zhang Hao said.

"We have won two national titles and we hope we will add another championship this time. We have gone through all kinds of hardships as veterans, and I believe I can overcome the injuries."

In addition to the competition among the veterans, young skaters are also expected to challenge the seniors. Sui Wenjing and Han Cong, who finished first at the 2010 World Junior Figure Skating Championships to become the second Chinese pair to win a junior world title after Zhang Dan and Zhang Hao claimed the crown in 2001 and 2003, are rising stars to watch.

Meanwhile, the speed skating event lost its most decorated star, four-time Winter Olympic champion Wang Meng, to a suspension.

The 27-year-old was expelled from the Chinese short track team in August after a drunken brawl with the team's manager during a camp in Qingdao in July.

The sport's authority said Wang's ban could be lengthy.