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Canadian duo lead pairs while China's Pang/Tong shine at Figure Skating worlds

Xinhua, March 25, 2015 Adjust font size:

Meagan Duhamel/Eric Redford of Canada took the lead in the pairs short program at the ISU Figure Skating worlds here on Wednesday.

The 2014 and 2013 world championships bronze medallists danced passionately to the music Un peu plus haut by Ginette Reno to rank first with 76.98 points.

China's veteran Pang Qing/Tong Jian, who had retired after the Sochi Games but made a come back this year, trailed with 72.59. Sui Wenjing/Han Cong of China came third in 71.63.

Pang and Tong, two-time world championships winner and three-time world medallists, attracted most attention on the ice.

"We have given up a lot to carry on our career," said Tong, 35. "But we also have been given a lot from the ice. We hope we can do better in the free dance and have a good sleep tonight."

The loving couple agreed that their relationship may be a reason for their persistence on figure skating.

"I have never thought about it but I think it could be a reason," Tong laughed. "We can leave competition but we can't leave each other. The happiest thing for me is having her."

Talking about Beijing's bidding for the 2022 Winter Olympic Games, Pang said they will do all they can to help. "We will do all we can, and we do have some plans but we want to talk about it later."

Young pair Sui and Han, the 2014 Four Continents champions, looked excited with their result. "We prepared very well and we performed our best level here," said the 19-year-old Sui.

"We are good friends," Sui said when asked about Han. "Sometimes we fight, but we make it up very soon."

China's Zhang Hao/Peng Cheng, the eighth at the Sochi Winter Games, danced to Tchaikovsky's Arabian Dance and took the fifth with 69.67.

"We performed our normal level," said Peng, 17. "But I am so nervous to compete at home and made some mistakes."

Zhang is expecting more Olympic Games. "As Beijing is bidding for the 2022 Games, I hope I can participate the 2022 Games as well as the 2018 Games," said the four-time Olympian.

American pair Madison Chock/Evan Bates, the eighth at the Sochi 2014 Games and 2015 Four Continents silver medallists, led the short dance with a season best 74.47 points. Canadian Kaitlyn Weaver and Andrew Poje, runners-up at the 2014 World Championships, trailed in 72.68, while Italy's Anna Cappellini/Luca Lanotte were third in 72.39.

"It really feels so good to skate our season best," said Chock. "We've worked so hard for this moment, and we skated really well. It's always great to have that (season best) at world championships. We hope to show good performance in the free dance."

The Canadians said they will make a come back in the free dance.

"Our silver medal last year is what made us so strong," said Weaver. "I know that we can push through anything. Being second is not a new thing for us, so we are fighters, and we know how to come back. Our free dance is our favourite program so we are looking forward to skate it with full force."

China's Wang Shiyue and Liu Xinyu finished 18th at the short dance and the top 20 qualify for the free dance.

"It is not our best dance because we have done better at training," said Wang. "It's our first world championships and I felt nervous."

The free dance of ice dance will take place on Friday. Thursday will see lady's short program and pair's free dance. Enditem