Chinese Duo Take First at NHK Trophy Figure Skating

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Friday, November 30, 2001

Chinese Duo Take First at NHK Trophy Figure Skating

Chinese pair finished first in the pairs event

China's Shen Xue and Zhao Hongbo finished first in the pairs event on the opening day of the NHK Trophy figure skating tournament in Kumamoto, Japan on Thursday.

The Chinese pair, who won the pairs at last year's NHK Trophy, impressed the judges with a dynamic, powerful routine.

They received mostly 5.8s for required elements and 5.7s for presentation to move ahead of the Russian pair Maria Petrova and Alexei Tikhonov, who took second. Poland's Dorota Zagorska and Mariusz Siudek were third.

Champions in other event

In ice dancing, favorites Marina Anissina and Gwendal Peizerat of France took the lead with a precise routine.

The French duo earned 5.7s in technique and 5.8s in timing and expression and were the clear favorites with the crowd.

Margarita Drobiazko and Povilas Vanagas of Lithuania placed second while Bulgarians Albena Denkova and Maxim Staviyski were third.

The NHK Trophy, the final of six Grand Prix invitational events,has been plagued by the withdrawal of numerous prominent skaters including world champion Evgeni Plushenko, Irina Slutskaya and Maria Butyrskaya.

2001 International Figure Skating Competition

NHK Trophy

Event Information

The 2001 NHK Trophy is the last competition of six international senior events of the ISU Grand Prix Series of Figure Skating for Ladies, Men, Pairs and Ice Dancing. The competition, organized by the Japan Skating Federation (JSF) and co-organized by NHK (Japan Broadcasting Corporation) will be held in Kumamoto, Japan from November 28th to December 2nd, 2001.

The City of Kumamoto

The City of Kumamoto is located in the middle of Kyushu Island (the southern Island) of Japan. It has rich history and tradition with plenty of clear water and green forest. It is also famous for the national treasure, Kumamoto Castle. You will enjoy a mild weather and old Japanese tradition in Kumamoto. The temperature in Kumamoto in the early December is 5 - 15 degrees Celsius.