Shen/Zhao Lighten Last Night of NWG despite Fall

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Saturday, January 18, 2003

Shen/Zhao Lighten Last Night of NWG despite Fall

China's first pairs world champions Shen Xue and Zhao Hongbo easily claimed the pairs title in the last night of the 10th National Winter Games despite falls by the top three couples.

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China's first pairs world champions Shen Xue and Zhao Hongbo easily claimed the pairs title in the last night of the 10th National Winter Games despite falls by the top three couples.

The Olympic bronze medallists were considered the only favorites before the competition and Friday's results came out no surprising.

Zhang Min clinched the gold for the men's single and Zhang Weina and Cao Xianming crowned the ice dancing earlier the same day.

Shen and Zhao were greeted by long-time applauses and cheers echoing at an almost fully-packed stadium, which was usually half-packed during the tournament, as soon as they stepped on the rink.

After presenting their routine to "Turandot" by Puccini, they received even more fervid response of the spectators, most of whom from their hometown Harbin, although they didn't try their brand quadruple salchow throw and Shen sprawled on a salchow throw.

"We're very excited," Zhao said after the match, "since it's our first performance of 'Turandot' before our hometown people ...maybe too excited."

Despite an unsuccessful salchow throw, Shen and Zhao remained in the spotlight in Friday's night.

"I'm here just to see them in person and enjoy their 'Turandot'," said Zhang Haibo, a fan of them.

The couple also dominated Thursday's short program, skating to rock opera "Beethovan's Last Night".

Pang Qing and Tong Jian, China's No.2 twosome, took the sliver although both hit the ice on different moves.

The promising couple Zhang Dan and Zhang Hao, who finished third, also had a mishap with Zhang staggering on landing after finishing three turns in the air.

Men's single, which ended in the afternoon, was actually a three-way battle among Zhang Min, Li Chengjiang and Li Yunfei.

Zhang, who led Thurday's short program, finished first in the free skate portion to top the overall standings.

The silver medal went to Li Chengjiang and Li Yunfei was third.

Zhang Weina and Cao Xianming, the first and sole Chinese ice dancing couple who have trained abroad, took the gold of ice dancing with no real challenge from other competitors.

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