Two-time world champions Shen Xue and Zhao Hongbo of China bagged the pairs title in Halifax Friday at Skate Canada, second stop on the ISU Figure Skating Grand Prix.

Shen and Zhao led after the short program and also won Friday's free skate to top the final standings with 190.2 points under the new scoring system adopted this year in the Grand Prix series.

Fellow Chinese Pang Qing and Tong Jian finished only fourth in the free skate but held on for the silver medal ahead of Poland's Dorota Zagorska and Mariusz Siudek.

In the only other event on the program on Friday, Canadian Cynthia Phaneuf delighted the home crowd with the top performance in the women's short program while Japan's Fumie Suguri was second ahead of compatriot Yoshie Onda.

Competition continues on Saturday with the men's and ladies' medals awarded after their free skates, and the event concludes on Sunday when the ice dance title will be awarded.

(Xinhua News Agency October 30, 2004)