Olympic champions Sui Wenjing and Han Cong of China delivered a commanding performance at the ISU Four Continents Figure Skating Championships in Beijing on January 22, securing first place in the pairs short program with 76.02 points. The 2022 Winter Games gold medalists now set their sights on Saturday's free skate finale, a crucial test ahead of next month's 2026 Winter Olympics.
Asian Skaters Shine on Home Ice
Japanese pair Yuna Nagaoka and Sumitada Moriguchi claimed second place (71.95 points), narrowly edging out American skaters Alisa Efimova and Misha Mitrofanov. China's Zhang Jiaxuan and Huang Yihang sit fourth with 69.05 points, maintaining host nation hopes for multiple podium finishes.
"We need to forge ahead step-by-step to achieve higher goals at the 2026 Winter Olympics," said Han, emphasizing their long-term strategy with partner Sui.
Youthful Energy in Women's Competition
Seventeen-year-old Japanese phenom Ami Nakai dominated the women's short program with 73.83 points, while Chinese skaters face an uphill battle with Zhu Yi, Zhang Ruiyang, and An Xiangyi positioned 10th, 11th, and 16th respectively.
Ice Dance Shakeup
American teams swept the ice dance rhythm dance podium, led by Emilea Zingas and Vadym Kolesnik (79.97 points). China's top duo Wang Shiyue and Liu Xinyu sit eighth, with Liu noting: "We adjusted details to make the show more impressive after national championships."
The event at Beijing's National Indoor Stadium continues through January 25, serving as the final international test before February's Winter Olympics.
