CHANGCHUN, Sept. 15 (Xinhua) -- China's figure skating pair Peng Cheng and Jin Yang, fourth at the 2019 Saitama World Championships, won the pairs competition at the National Championships here on Sunday.
Dancing to the music of "Cloud Atlas", Peng and Jin delivered a strong free dance despite a mistake in their throw. The runners-up of last season's ISU Grand Prix Final collected 202.66 points for the gold.
Tang Feiyao and Yang Yongchao, who just moved to senior competition this season, took the silver in 182.41. Liu Jiaxi and Xie Zhong finished third in 167.12. Yu Xiaoyu and Zhang Hao came fourth.
"We are not satisfied with the free skate," said Jin. "It's the season opener and we need to make some adjustment."
In the men's competition, veteran Yan Han came back strongly and won the gold medal with a beautiful long program "La La Land". Yan, seventh at the 2014 Sochi Games, had thought about retiring last season, but still cannot give it up as he still dreams about the Olympic Games.
"I want to take part in the Beijing Winter Games, so I come back," said Yan, who won the gold in 231.50. Zhang He and Wang Yi ranked second and third respectively. Jin Boyang, who took fifth at the Worlds earlier the year, didn't take part in the Nationals.
The ladies competition was quite fierce and at last 12-year-old An Xiangyi won the title with 197.93. Chen Hongyi and naturalized skater Lin Shan were second and third respectively.
According to Chinese figure skating team head coach Zhao Hongbo, ice dance winners Wang Shiyue and Liu Xinyu made big progress this time. "They have two unique programs and made the audience remember them. I think it is a big improvement," he said.
Wang and Liu dominated the ice dance with 192.58, while Chen Hong and Sui Zhuoming, who trained together with the winners in Canada, came second. Ning Wanqi and Wang Chao were third.
The National Championships also served as a qualifier for the National Winter Games next year.
