China's top favorites Zhang Dan and Zhang Hao skated near-perfect routine to win the pairs short program at the Harbin Winter Universiade on Saturday.

Israeli pair Alexandra Zaretski and Roman Zaretski led the ice dancing after the compulsory dance before the Chinese pair took center stage.

Saturday saw the official start of the Universiade figure skating, with a brief opening ceremony held at the Harbin International Convention Center ahead of the games.

Zhang Dan and Zhang Hao nailed a triple lutz twist lift in the start, followed by a throw triple loop and flying change foot combination spin.

Despite Zhang Hao's unstable landing after a triple salchow, the Chinese veterans sustained a beautiful synchronization in an elegant skate to Riding on the Wings of Songs, scoring a highest 68.3 points.

"The pair can do even better than today. Zhang Hao had a small flaw in his performance," said Yao Bin, head coach of the Chinese figure skating.

The Zhangs, who are not related, are best known for the silver medal they won at the Turin Olympics, where Zhang Dan sprained knee ligaments during a routine but managed to complete it.

Russian pair Ksenia Ozerova and Alexander Enbert and American duo Andrea Best and Trevor Young placed second and third at the pairs' skating, respectively.

In the ice dancing event, Israeli pair Alexandra Zaretski and Roman Zaretski showed their class by scoring both the highest technical and presentations marks in the compulsory dance, to the music of Paso Doble.

"We are trying not to disappoint the audience, and we are confident to claim the gold," said the brother Zaretski. The brother-and-sister skaters are considered by their rivals as the strongest gold contenders in ice dance.

Russian Ekaterina Rubleva and Ivan Shefer at 34.43, who stood eighth at the 2009 European Championships, placed second at 34.43, while Ukrainian duo Alla Beknazarova and Vladimir Zuev, grabbed third at 33.44.

Ice dancing resumes on Sunday with the original dance, followed by the third and final leg, the free dance, on next Monday.

In the men's single skating, French skater Alban Preaubert held the advantage after the short program, with the free skate taking place on Sunday afternoon.

Artern Borodulin from Russia placed second at 66.25, while Italian skater Paolo Bacchini took third at 65.59 out of the 33 participants.

Sunday will see the competitions of original dance of ice dancing, pairs and men's free skating.

Altogether 204 participants from 26 countries and regions will compete in five events, namely, ice dance, men's and women's single skating, pairs and synchronized skating.

(Xinhua News Agency February 22, 2009)