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China wins first figure skating gold at Universiade
(Xinhua)
Updated: 2009-02-22 18:37

HARBIN -- China's overwhelming favorites Zhang Dan and Zhang Hao twirled to their third consecutive victory at the Winter Universiade here on Sunday, snatching the first figure skating gold for the host.


China's Zhang Dan (Top) and Zhang Hao perform during the pairs short program of figure skating at the 24th World Winter Universiade in Harbin, capital of northeast China's Heilongjiang province, February 21, 2009. [Xinhua]

The Olympic silver medalists posted an overall total score of 195.32 in their free skating, leaving Russian rivals Ksenia Ozerova and Alexander Enbert a distant second at 146.10.

Another Chinese pair Dong Huibo/Wu Yiming took bronze with 143.63.

The Chinese aces opened with a double axel and triple toeloop to the Yangtze River Piano Concerto, followed by a full array of dazzling throws and lifts that wowed the fans and the judges at Harbin International Convention Center in northeast China.

It is the third consecutive victory for the Zhangs in the biennial sports gala since 2005, also the first gold out of the figure skating competitions slated for February 21-24.

The men's free skating will start later on Sunday, witnessing the second gold out of the five at Universiade figure skating.

Altogether 204 participants from 26 countries compete in five events, namely, ice dance, men's and women's single skating, pairs and synchronized skating.

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