The ISU Grand Prix figure skating finals will kick off next week in Beijing with two-time world champions Shen Xue/Zhao Hongbo leading Chinese assault to the pairs title.

Head coach of Chinese figure skating team Yao Bin (L), Shen Xue (C) and Zhao Hongbo at the press conference for the ISU Grand Prix figure skating finals, Beijing, Dec. 7, 2004.

"It will be the first time that China hosts the event," Wang Yumin, an official at the Chinese Skating Federation, told a press conference in Beijing on December 7.

The ISU Grand Prix figure skating event is a six-leg series.

According to the ISU rules, top six skaters and pairs in each discipline in the series are eligible to compete at the season-ending finals.

Organizers confirmed that American Johnnie Weir, top ranked in the men's singles event, had withdrawn from the finals, which are slated for Dec. 16-19 at the Beijing Capital Gymnasium.

"He pulled out due to a right foot injury that he picked up during Cup of Russia," said Wang.

Weir's move opened the door for Russia's three-time world champion Evgeni Plushenko, who was the first alternate for the six participants of the finals.

"The Russian figure skating association has sent us Plushenko's relative documents for the visa application," said Wang.

"We are waiting for his final registration form to confirm his attendance."

The deadline for registration is Wednesday.

With the absence of Weir, France's Brian Joubert becomes the top-ranked skater and heavy gold medal favorite. He is expected to face tough challenge from two Canadians Jeffrey Buttle and Emanuel Sandhu, the defending champion.

Ryan Jahnke of the United States and China's Li Chengjiang round out the men's singles line-up.

On the women's side, former world champion Irina Slutskaya will confront Japan's newly-crowned world champion Shizuka Arakawa.

In the pairs competition, Russia's Maria Petrova and Alexei Tikhonov will battle for a medal with three local pairs Shen/Zhao, Zhang Dan/Zhang Hao and Pang Qing/Tong Jian.

Shen said she and Zhao would continue to rely on the well-choreographed routine to Kitaro's "The Soong Sisters".

"There will be no major changes in our routine. We only add a few more difficult spins," said the 26-year-old girl.

The Olympic gold medal is the only major title that has eluded Shen/Zhao. Their closest attempt was at the Salt Lake City Winter Olympics in 2002 where they won the bronze after Russia's Elena Berezhnaya/Anton Sikharulidze and Canada's Jamie Sale/David Pelletier.

"The Olympic gold is our last dream now," said Shen. "We are looking forward to a better result in Turin 2006."

Winners in ice dancing are very likely to be decided among Tatiana Navka/Roman Kostomarov from Russia, Tanith Belbin/Benjamin Agosto from the United States and Albena Denkova/Maxim Staviski from Bulgaria with each winning two titles during this season.

Source: Xinhua