China's Peng Cheng (R) and Jin Yang perform during the pairs' short program competition of 2019 ISU World Figure Skating Championships at Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan, on March 20, 2019. (Xinhua/Wang Lili)
China's Peng Cheng/Jin Yang skated to their first ISU Grand Prix victory at Skate America.
WASHINGTON, Oct. 19 (Xinhua) -- China's Peng Cheng/Jin Yang skated to their first ISU Grand Prix victory at Skate America on Saturday in Las Vegas, according to the official website of International Skating Union (ISU).
Dancing to the music of 'Cloud Atlas', Peng/Jin, who led the short program on Friday, completed a triple toe-double toe, throw triple Salchow, triple twist and two level-four lifts. However, Peng crashed on the throw triple loop. The 2019 Four Continents bronze medalists earned 128.16 points and totaled 200.89 points to win the event.
"We've won several silver medals and we've been longing for a gold medal. We put in a lot of effort and this gold medal is like a new starting point for us and will push us further. Hopefully we'll win many more gold medals," Peng said.
Russia's Daria Pavliuchenko/Denis Khodykin, the 2018 World Junior Champions, ranked third in the free skate with 125.73, but remained in second overall at 196.98.
Haven Denney/Brandon Frazier of the United States collected 127.52 and were second in the free skate but third overall on 192.70.
Nathan Chen of the United States during the gala exhibition of 2019 ISU World Figure Skating Championships at Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan, on March 24, 2019. (Xinhua/Du Xiaoyi)
In the men's competition, two-time world champion Nathan Chen of the United States finished three quad jumps and won his third Skate America title with 299.09. Another American skater Jason Brown took silver in 255.09. Russia's Dmitri Aliev was third with 253.55. China's Jin Boyang ranked sixth.
The Skate America is the first stop of the ISU Figure Skating Grand Prix series, which features six stops and a Grand Prix Final. ■
