 |
| |
|
 |
 |
 |
Strong start Shen, Zhao show class at NHK TrophyPosted: Thursday November 28, 2002 9:49 AMKYOTO, Japan (AP) -- World champions Xue Shen and Hongbo Zhao of China finished first in the pairs short program on Thursday, the opening day of the NHK Trophy. Skating to Beethoven's Last Night, Shen and Zhao received marks ranging from 5.6 to 5.8 for required elements and 5.7 to 5.8 for presentation at Kyoto Aqua Arena. "We made no major mistakes but there is always room for improvement," Shen said. "We're striving to be perfect and want to work on our landings but otherwise are pleased with today's performance." Zhao and Shen nailed a triple throw loop early in their routine Thursday but Zhao said a quadruple throw loop is probably not in the cards for Friday's original dance. "We haven't been practicing it that much recently," said Zhao. "Our percentage of success is better this year but I don't think we'll do it tomorrow." Dorota Zagorska and Mariusz Siudek of Poland were second after the short program while the Russian pair of Maria Petrova and Alexei Tikhonov were third. Shen and Zhao are the first couple from China to become world champions and are the clear favorites here. The NHK Trophy is the sixth and final leg of the ISU Grand Prix series. The top six finishers in all events will compete in the Grand Prix final in St. Petersburg, Russia, at the beginning of March, three weeks before the world championships in Washington D.C. In ice dancing, Russia's Irina Lobacheva and Ilia Averbukh finished first in the compulsory dance. The Russian skaters, who won the gold medal at the Cup of Russia, turned in a near-faultless performance to Tango Romantica for 0.4 factored placings. Galit Chait and Sergei Sakhnovski of Israel were second while Kati Winkler and Rene Lohse of Germany finished third. The competition continues Friday with the pair and women's free programs. Russia's Irina Slutskaya, who finished third in last week's Cup of Russia, is the favorite in the women's program along with Japan's Fumie Suguri, who was second at Skate Canada earlier this month. Japan's Takeshi Honda, who finished first at Skate Canada, will be looking to defend his title in the men's event, which begins Saturday with the short program.
|
|
|||||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||||
