China's Shen Xue and Zhao Hongbo, stood first after short program at the Cup of China figure skating competition in Beijing.

The 2004 figure skating World Cup China, the fourth leg of the International Skating Union's Grand Prix, opened at Beijing's Capital Gymnasium Thursday night. Skaters from 18 countries are engaged in a fierce battle of loops and stunning acrobatics much to the delight of local spectators.

The competition kicked off in Beijing with the Compulsory Dance as well as the Ladies and Pairs Short Programs.

During the short opening ceremony, nineteen Chinese girls glided across the ice with the national flags of the participating countries.

In the pairs short program, China's two-time world champions Shen Xue and Zhao Hongbo, performed their newly choreographed program to the romantic "Clair de Lune" by Claude Debussy.

The golden pair, who won the title at Skate Canada International last month, finished with a nearly perfect performance, except Shen Xue who put her hand down on the ice when landing a less than perfect triple loop.

The pair soon recovered to produce a high double twist and was finally awarded the highest mark of 66.38 points to capture the lead at the pair's short program.

Commenting on their first day performance in Beijing, Zhao Hongbo said "It was quite OK, although we had a little mistake. We will try our best in tomorrow's competition."

Another rising Chinese pair, Zhang Dan and Zhang Hao, winners of Skate America, are tailing slightly behind their competitors with 62.28 points.

Canadian pair Valerie Marcoux and Craig Butin finished third with 61.84. They felt very pleased as they received warm welcome from the Chinese spectators. "They were fun because everything that I did they really reacted to it. I said Xiexie Zhongguo (Thanks China). They all clapped and there is very fun," said Butin.

American duo Tahith Belbin and Benjamin Agosto took the first place in Compulsory Dance.

Meanwhile, five-time European Champion Irina Slutskaya of Russia celebrated a successful comeback on the Grand Prix Series after two years of absence by winning the Ladies Short Program.

The following competitions on Friday will see Chinese top men's skater Li Chengjiang, who will challenge for his first Grand Prix title against German Stefan Lindemann in the men's short program.

Shen Xue and Zhao Hongbo are expected to win their second Grand Prix champion on home soil with "The Soong Sisters".

(CRI November 12, 2004)