World champions withdraw from Four Continents Figure Skating Championships

BEIJING -- Reigning world champions Sui Wenjing and Han Cong and teammates Yu Xiaoyu/Jin Yang have withdrawn from the upcoming Four Continents Figure Skating Championships due to minor injuries that Sui sustained a week ago.

"Sui received a shin skin scratch in training a week ago and Jin has been suffering from recrudescence of old injuries. In order to protect the health of the skaters, the Chinese Figure Skating Association and the national team made the decision," the Chinese Figure Skating Association said in a statement on Saturday.

Sui and Han, who had captured the gold medal at last year's World Championships and finished runners-up at this season's World Grand Prix Finals, were considered medal favorites of the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics.

Nine Chinese skaters including men's world championships bronze medal winner Jin Boyang will take part in the men's, women's and ice dance competitions at the Four Continents Figure Skating Championships, which is slated for Taipei from January 24 to 27, for their final tune-up for the Pyeongchang Games.