Olympic silver medallists Zhang Dan and Zhang Hao of China,
winners at the last week's Trophee Bompard in Paris, confirmed
their top status with a flawless performance of their free
programme to win the Cup of Russia pairs' title, the fifth in the
six-leg Grand Prix figure skating series in Moscow on Saturday.
South Korean teenager Kim Yu-Na won the women's title. Kim, 17,
who won last year's Grand Prix, scored a new personal best mark of
133.70 points in free skating to add the Russian Cup to the Cup of
China, which she won earlier this month.
Japan's Yukari Nakano remained in second place overall, while
21-year-old Joannie Rochette of Canada, fifth after the opening day
of the competitions, was second in free skating to finish in the
third place overall.
In the men's section, China Cup winner American Johnny Weir beat
former two-time world champion Stephane Lambiel of Switzerland to
land top spot.
Local favourite Andrei Griazev managed to secure third place
although he could only manage fifth in the free programme.
In pairs, Zhang Dan and Zhang Hao of China, win the event while
the European champions and Skate Canada winners Aliona Savchenko
and Robin Szolkowy of Germany remained second, while Russian duo
Yuko Kawaguchi and Alexander Smirnov jumped into the third
place.
Russia's Oksana Domnina and Maxim Shabalin extended their lead
in ice dances with a solid presentation of the original
Folk-Country dance to stay ahead of the second-placed French pair
Nathalie Pechalat and Fabian Bourzat.
Another Russian duo, Ekaterina Bobrova and Dmirti Soloviev, are
third.
The winners of the ice dancing section will be decided on
Sunday.
The final event of the series is the NHK Trophy in Japan from
November 29-December 2 with the Grand Prix final in Turin from
December 13-16.
Japan's Yukari Nakano
competes in the ladies free programme at the ISU Grand Prix of
Figure Skating Cup of Russia in Moscow November 24,
2007.?
France's Nathalie Pechalat (L) and Fabian
Bourzat perform in the Ice Dancing Original Dance during the ISU
Grand Prix of Figure Skating Cup of Russia in Moscow November 24,
2007.
China's Zhang Dan (L) and
Zhang Hao compete in the pairs free programme at the ISU Grand Prix
of Figure Skating Cup of Russia in Moscow November 24, 2007. The
Chinese pair won the title with 192.68 points.
Switzerland's Stephane
Lambiel performs his free programme at the ISU Grand Prix of Figure
Skating Cup of Russia in Moscow November 24, 2007.
Germany's Aliona Savchenko
(top) and Robin Szolkowy compete in the pairs free programme at the
ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Cup of Russia in Moscow November
24, 2007.?
Finland's Kiira Koppi
competes in the ladies free programme at the ISU Grand Prix of
Figure Skating Cup of Russia in Moscow November 24,
2007.?
(Xinhua News Agency November 25, 2007)
