Shen/Zhao lead Cup of China after short program

Two-time world champions Shen Xue and Zhao Hongbo skated to a convincing lead after the pairs short program on November 11 despite a little tumbling on their throw triple loop on the first day of Cup of China -- the fourth leg of International Skating Union (ISU) Grand Prix.

Another Chinese pair Zhang Dan and Zhang Hao, fresh from their victory in Skate America last month, came in second behind Shen/Zhao.

Tanith Belbin and Benjamin Agosto of the United States led after the ice dancing compulsory dance, and Russia's Irina Slutskaya topped the ladies' singles short program.

Shen/Zhao, who won the world championship pairs titles in 2002 and 2003, sent some 1,000 home fans at the Capital Gymnasium into ecstasy with a smooth program which included their trademark high-flying twists and whirling lifts.

Despite of Shen's one-hand landing during the throw triple loop, the experienced duo earned the highest program components score of 31.68 points to the music of "Claire de Lune" by Claude Debussy and the total 66.38 for the short program.

"The error was totally accidental. We never failed in practice after we returned from Skate Canada," said Zhao after the competition, referring to Shen's slip.

The younger pair Zhangs well executed their short program, featuring a high double twist as well as a huge throw triple loop and a difficult Lasso lift, to the music of "All Alone". They got the highest technical mark 35.16 but a lower 27.12 program components score left them in the second place with a total of 62.28.

Canadian national champions Valerie Marcoux and Craig Buntin shared a same technical score with Zhangs, settling for third place with the score of 61.84.

"We performed well today," said Zhang Hao. "We feel the strong support from the home spectators. We should thank them a lot."

The ice dancing champions of Skate America, Belbin/Agosto put out a smooth performance of the Waltz to take the lead on the first day. With an excellent interpretation on the character of the dance and their technical supremacy, the 2004 Four Continents Champions scored 40.07 points to stay top.

Marie-France Dubreuil and Patrice Lauzon from Canada were second with 39.37 points as Galit Chait and Sergei Sakhnovski of Israel ranked third with 37.77.

"It's a great start for the competition here," said the lead duo. "The Chinese audience are incredibly zealous."

In the ladies' singles competition, Slutskaya staged an impressive comeback from a one-year break to lead with 62.96 points. The 2002 world champion quit skating temporarily and skipped the 2003 world championships due to the severe illness of her mother.

"I was happy with the competition today, although I made a couple of mistakes," said 25-year-old Russian. "You will see what will happen in free skating."

Her Russian compatriot Viktoria Volchkova was in second place on 53.16 points, with American Angela Nikodinov in third on 49.82.

Fang Dan was the top-ranked Chinese skater in the ladies' singles, ranking eighth among the 11 competitors in the discipline.

The event continues Friday with ice dancing original dance, men's short program and pairs free skating.

Source: Xinhua