China's elite figure skating duo, Shen Xue and Zhao Hongbo, are to compete at the 2006 World Figure Skating Championships.

The two-time world champions have confirmed their participation Friday in Beijing.

Shen Xue disclosed that they would leave for the world championships in Canada within two weeks.

The duo has won the tournament twice - in 2002 and 2003. They were runners-up in 2004, but missed the final skate when male skater Zhao Hongbo's suffered a foot injury.

They have also won a bronze medal in the just concluded Olympic Winter Games in Turin, Italy.

They won't, however, be competing against their arch rivals, Russia's Tatiana Totmianina and Maxim Marinin who have announced retirement after winning at the Turin Olympics last month.

(CRI English March 4, 2006)