Shen and Zhao Won NHK Trophy Pair Title

Shen and Zhao Won NHK Trophy Pair Title

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China's top pair Shen Xue and Zhao Hongbo proved Friday they are one of the best duo in the world as the world silver medallists won the pair title at the NHK Trophy figure skating competition in Asahikawa, Japan.

Shen and Zhao, the Grand Prix Final winners, received the best scores from almost all the nine judges by collecting a 5.9, seven 5.8s and a 5.7 for the technical merit, and two 5.9s, six 5.8s and a 5.7 for the presentation.

It was a second NHK Trophy for the Chinese golden pair, who won the competition in 1997.

World champions Maria Petrova and Alexei Tikhonov of Russia finished just third behind Sarah Abitbol and Stephane Bernadis of France, world bronze medallists, at second.