Figure skaters likely to ignite flame

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(Xinhua)
Updated: 2009-02-18 14:44

HARBIN - Home favorite figure skaters Zhang Dan and Zhang Hao are winning applauses as odds-on candidates to ignite the holy flame of the coming 24th Winter Universiade.

Figure skaters Zhang Dan (L) and Zhang Hao are interviewed by a Xinhua reporter in Harbin, Northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, February 17, 2009. [Xinhua]

With one day to go before the curtain-raising ceremony in Harbin, capital city of China's northeastern Heilongjiang province, the Winter Olympic runners-up are busy in both training and rehearsal for the opening ceremony.

"No one tells us we are the ones to ignite the holy flame," said Zhang Hao, who arrived in Harbin on Monday, one day before other members of the Chinese figure skating team, "it remains as a mystery for everyone, and we are no exception."

Zhang Dan and Zhang Hao are the most famous Chinese athletes for the Universiade as they are tipped to reap their third straight victory since 2005 in the pairs during the winters sports gala in their home city.

And gossips even go around, saying they are to ignite the flame as the last torch bearers at the ceremony with a classic figure skating routine.

"It's true that we are participating in the rehearsal and we also heard the rumor," Zhang Hao further explained that the ceremony also features figure skating performance.

The figure skating pairs become the household names in China when they collected the historical silver medal in the Turin Winter Olympics in 2006 after Zhang Dan suffered a crash in the rink in executing a quadruple jump.

As for the Universiade, they collected the pairs golds with comfortable advantages in both Innsbruck, Austria and Turin, Italy, and they were even chosen as ambassadors to help Harbin win the hosting rights in 2005 for the 24th Universiade.

"We are excited and full of expectation for the Games on our homeland," said Zhang Dan, "We are giving keen attention to the Games and we hope to award our home audience with our best performance."

However, Zhang Dan said they were not in the best form as they only returned home one week ago from the Four Continental Championships in Canada.

"We are feeling a little bit exhausted, and injuries also hinder our training," said Zhang Dan, "But we are sure we can win the pairs event even if we only perform to our standard."