2006 Cup of China: Pairs Highlights

The ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating series continued with Cup of China, the third of six qualifying events. The event was held November 9-12 at the Olympic Center in Nanjing, Jiangsu, China. Over 60 skaters from 18 different countries competed for points and monies totaling $180,000 in U.S. dollars. The points go toward qualification for the Grand Prix Final, to which the top six competitors in points standings…

2006 Cup of China: Ladies Highlights

Julia Sebestyen of Hungary rose from third after the short to win her first Grand Prix gold in the ladies event, while Japan’s Yukari Nakano edged out USA’s Emily Hughes for the silver. Hughes settled for the bronze, her first Grand Prix medal, with only a .15 point difference.

Hughes opened her Carmen routine with a good triple flip-double toeloop combination, followed by a triple Lutz, and a double…

2006 Cup of China: Men’s Highlights

USA’s Evan Lysacek easily captured his first Cup of China (COC) gold medal, while Sergei Davydov of Belarus won his first senior Grand Prix medal – the silver. Canada’s Emanuel Sandhu, who was the COC Champion last year, won the bronze.

Chengjiang Li of China withdrew before the Men’s Short Program due to health problems related to asthma.

Davydov opened his routine to Hymn to the Moon by Eugenia Manolides…

2006 Cup of China: Ice Dance Highlights

Oksana Domnina and Maxim Shabalin of Russia were the winners in the ice dance event, edging out USA’s Tanith Belbin and Benjamin Agosto by 1.26 points, who settled for silver. Teammates Jana Khokhlova and Sergei Novitski easily won the bronze, their first medal at a Grand Prix event.

The Compulsory Dance for Skate Canada was the Rhumba. The dance was invented by Walter Gregory and was first performed…

2006 Cup of China Preview

The ISU Grand Prix continues with the third of six events, held in Nanjing, Jiangsu, China from November 9 – 12. One of the strongest emerging powers in figure skating, China has especially excelled in the pairs event.

Former world champions and two-time and reigning Olympic bronze medalists lead the way at Cup of China. Shen and Zhao, who overcame a serious injury to triumph at the Olympics with an…