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Pang and Tong shine with NHK Trophy Win
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Qing Pang and Jian Tong (CHN) assured
themselves a berth in the Grand Prix Final
with their NHK Trophy gold medal.
Photo: AP/Koji Sasahara
After countrymen Xue Shen and Hongbo Zhao’s impressive comeback last week at Cup of China, 2006 World champions Qing Pang and Jian Tong made sure that all eyes were on them this week with an impressive win at the NHK Trophy. They and silver medalists Yuko Kavaguti and Alexander Smirnov were in a class of their own, beating the rest of the eight pairs by almost 35 points. The two American pairs were both strong in their efforts, finishing in the top four.
Moving up from second in the short program, Pang and Tong skated a clean and powerful free skate that was highlighted by their huge technical elements. Their program was strong throughout, and their skills were well-complemented by their great skating skills and improved musicality. They became the first pair to break the 130-point barrier in the free skate this season, earning a 132.35 and an overall score of 199.65, right behind Shen and Zhao’s season-leading total last week.
Russian champions Kavaguti and Smirnov’s free skate was interrupted immediately at the opening by another scary fall on their throw quadruple salchow. After crashing on the landing, Kavaguti held her right arm and skated toward the referee, who gave them a three-minute medical break. They picked their program back up and skated the remainder cleanly. Their score of 124.15 was a personal best, despite receiving three points in mandatory deductions for the fall and the program interruption.
Their throw triple axel escaped them this week, but two-time U.S. champions Rena Inoue and John Baldwin conquered their side-by-side jump problems and skated a nearly flawless free skate to move up from fourth to win their first Grand Prix medal this season. Inoue fell after being off-axis in the air during their throw triple axel attempt and there was a collision on the catch of their triple twist, but the rest of their program was strong and smooth. Their free skate score of 106.26 is the best of the Americans so far this season. They have not exhibited this kind of form in a number of seasons, and it bodes well for their chances at their second Olympic team.
Third after the short program, U.S. silver medalists Caydee Denney and Jeremy Barrett could not hold on to their bronze medal position after a few mistakes in their free skate. Denney fell on their throw triple lutz and Barrett had some trouble with both side-by-side jump elements. Still, they are a strong pair with enormous potential, showing great improvements already in their second season together. They finished just off the podium in fourth in their Grand Prix debut.
PAIRS (final standings)
1. Qing Pang and Jian Tong CHN – 199.65
2. Yuko Kavaguti and Alexander Smirnov RUS – 193.05
3. Rena Inoue and John Baldwin USA – 158.78
4. Caydee Denney and Jeremy Barrett USA – 151.43
5. Mylene Brodeur and John Mattatall CAN – 150.71
6. Ksenia Krasilnikova and Konstantin Bezmaternikh RUS – 137.49
7. Paige Lawrence and Rudi Swiegers CAN – 130.77
8. Narumi Takahashi and Mervin Tran JPN – 119.48
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