Chinese pair Pang Qing and
Tong Jian scored 119.63 points for an overall winning score of
187.33 to take the pairs title at the ISU Four Continents Figure
Skating Championships in Goyang, South Korea, on Thursday, February
14, 2008.
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.
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.
Zhang Dan and Zhang Hao
picked up 111.39 points for a total of 181.84 to settle for the
second place at the ISU Four Continents Figure Skating
Championships in Goyang, South Korea, on Thursday, February 14,
2008.
(Xinhua News Agency February 15, 2008)
