Pang, Tong soar to pairs gold
Source: Agencies |
March 26, 2010, Friday
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Print Edition
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VANCOUVER silver medallists Pang Qing and Tong Jian destroyed their rivals with a unique brand of flair to win the pairs gold at the world championships in Turin, Italy, on Wednesday.
The Chinese duo, who led after Tuesday's short program, also topped the free session with 136.11 points, giving them a total of 211.39 to deny defending champions Aliona Savchenko and Robin Szolkowy.
The Germans, performing to the tune "Out of Africa", moved up to second overall (204.74) from third after showing good control on their lifts. Yuko Kavaguti, with a large red heart dominating her dress, finished third with Russian partner Alexander Smirnov.
Pang and Tong's strong routine to "Impossible Dream" easily secured the title, even though she doubled one of their side-by-side jumps.
"For us, it's the impossible dream because ... there are so few people who can be here in the rink for such high-level competition.
"Skating at this level is our dream, the big dream," Tong said.
Pang and Tong's other world title came in 2006, against a watered-down, post-Olympic field. But this competition was no breeze.
Italian pair Stefania Berton and Ondrej Hotarek ended up 11th overall in their first major tournament together having thrilled the home crowd by surprisingly qualifying on Tuesday.
Olympic pairs champions Shen Xue and Zhao Hongbo retired straight after last month's Vancouver Winter Games, increasing the number of pull-outs to hit the 100th edition of the worlds.
Men's Olympic champion Evan Lysacek of the United States and Russian silver medallist Yevgeny Plushenko have both skipped the event.
Vancouver bronze medallist Daisuke Takahashi made the most of their absence by mixing pizzazz with technical excellence to seize the advantage after the short program.
The Japanese skater, dressed as a glam rock rebel, scored 89.30 points to lead the 24 skaters who qualified for the final free program.
"I'm very pleased to have achieved a high score in the short program without the quad, but my goal is to include the quad, especially for next season," Takahashi said.
Canada's Patrick Chan lies second on 87.80.
Brian Joubert did produce a quadruple jump and let out a roar of delight after his speedy routine but was placed only third to the anger of the throngs of French fans in the crowd. A debate has raged since Vancouver over whether skaters should be more handsomely rewarded for the most difficult jump.
The Chinese duo, who led after Tuesday's short program, also topped the free session with 136.11 points, giving them a total of 211.39 to deny defending champions Aliona Savchenko and Robin Szolkowy.
The Germans, performing to the tune "Out of Africa", moved up to second overall (204.74) from third after showing good control on their lifts. Yuko Kavaguti, with a large red heart dominating her dress, finished third with Russian partner Alexander Smirnov.
Pang and Tong's strong routine to "Impossible Dream" easily secured the title, even though she doubled one of their side-by-side jumps.
"For us, it's the impossible dream because ... there are so few people who can be here in the rink for such high-level competition.
"Skating at this level is our dream, the big dream," Tong said.
Pang and Tong's other world title came in 2006, against a watered-down, post-Olympic field. But this competition was no breeze.
Italian pair Stefania Berton and Ondrej Hotarek ended up 11th overall in their first major tournament together having thrilled the home crowd by surprisingly qualifying on Tuesday.
Olympic pairs champions Shen Xue and Zhao Hongbo retired straight after last month's Vancouver Winter Games, increasing the number of pull-outs to hit the 100th edition of the worlds.
Men's Olympic champion Evan Lysacek of the United States and Russian silver medallist Yevgeny Plushenko have both skipped the event.
Vancouver bronze medallist Daisuke Takahashi made the most of their absence by mixing pizzazz with technical excellence to seize the advantage after the short program.
The Japanese skater, dressed as a glam rock rebel, scored 89.30 points to lead the 24 skaters who qualified for the final free program.
"I'm very pleased to have achieved a high score in the short program without the quad, but my goal is to include the quad, especially for next season," Takahashi said.
Canada's Patrick Chan lies second on 87.80.
Brian Joubert did produce a quadruple jump and let out a roar of delight after his speedy routine but was placed only third to the anger of the throngs of French fans in the crowd. A debate has raged since Vancouver over whether skaters should be more handsomely rewarded for the most difficult jump.
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