Russian skaters dominated the ice on the opening day of the Sumsung Anycall Cup of China ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating 2005, as they led all three events of the tournament yesterday at Beijing Capital Gymnasium.
Reigning world silver medallists Maria Petrova/Alexei Tikhonov beat the home favorites Pang Qing and Tong Jian after the pairs' short program, while two-time world champion Irina Slutskaya shone in the ladies' singles. Her compatriots Tatiana Navka and Roman Kostomarov currently rank first in the ice dancing.
Petrova/Tikhonov put on a dramatic short program to the music of "Sarabande" by Georg Friedrich Handel. Their fluent routine featured a throw triple loop, a difficult lift with an original exit, as well as a pair combination spin with many changes of positions. However, they ended the program seconds after the music. They earned 62.76 points to lead.
"It was a good program for us today and we just made a small mistake in the triple throw and straight line step sequence," said Tikhonov, who entered his second event after taking the silver medal at Skate Canada last week. "Because we've just flown from Canada, a very long trip, we are very tried, so it's OK for us."
Being good friends with Shen Xue and Zhao Hongbo, the leading Chinese pair skaters who are absent form the tournament due to Zhao's injury, the Russian pair expressed their regrets.
"I'm very sorry for Hongbo since he and Shen Xue are very good friends," said Tikhonov. "I hope he come back very quickly and go to compete in the Olympics."
Without Shen and Zhao, Pang/Tong, the bronze medallists at last season's Grand Prix finals, were the only hopes for China. They offered a good performance to the music of "Variations on a Theme" by Paganini, but Pang made an error while landing the side-by-side triple toe loop jump. and their combination spin was slightly out of synch, meaning a score of 58.64 points.
"Unfortunately, Pang made a mistake in the routine," said Tong. "Actually we expected to lead the Russian pair after the short programme, but they are four points ahead of us, which may make it more difficult in tomorrow's free skating.
"Anyway, we will try our best tomorrow."
Dorota Zagorska/ Mariusz Siudek of Poland came third with 56.06 points.
In the ladies' field, the defending champion Slutskaya led comfortably with a strong performance, marked by her signature move, the Biellmann-spin. She scored 70.22 for her season opening performance, setting a personal best.
World junior champion Mao Asada of Japan ranked second on her debut with 62.92 points, beating her compatriot Shizuka Arakawa, the 2004 world champion, into the third. Arakawa scored 57.56 points.
"For a debut it was good and I'm here to do my best," said Slutskaya, who competed for the first time this season. "I still have a couple of parts that need more work and I hope to improve more next time."
Skating in Beijing for the third time and receiving cheers from the audience as if she were home, the 26-year Russian also expressed her exciting at competing in China.
"When I looked at the ice rinks and the hotel, it was like I had never left," she said happily.
In the ice dancing pool, the compulsory dance for Cup of China is Tango Romantica. Drew to skate the first on the opening day, the two time world champions Navka and Kostomarov showed their obvious strength and earned 36.83 points to lead the three-day competition.
The four-day event continues today with men's ice dancing freestyle, men's short program and pairs' free skating.
(China Daily November 4, 2005)
