Sui Wenjing(L)/Han Cong of China perform during the pairs' free skating at the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Cup of China 2019 in Chongqing, southwest China, Nov. 9, 2019. (Xinhua/Tang Yi)
CHONGQING, Nov. 9 (Xinhua) -- Hosts China took two titles at the ISU figure skating Grand Prix Cup of China after Jin Boyang led home the men's 1-2 and Olympic silver medalists Sui Wenjing and Han Cong were crowned at the pairs here on Saturday.
The most stunning performance, however, came earlier in the ladies free skate as Russian teenage sensation Anna Shcherbakova launched two quadruple jumps to be crowned for the second time in the 2019-2020 season.
Shcherbakova, a runaway leader after Friday's short program, completed an under-rotated quad Lutz-triple toeloop combination and a quad Lutz with a not-clear edge to open her free skate performing to "Gnossienne No. 1, The Firebird".
The 15-year-old Russian champion's four-minute routine, which earned her an event high 152.53 in free skate and 226.04 overall, was highlighted by a triple Lutz-triple Loop, a triple Flip-single Euler-triple Salchow and a triple Lutzp, as well as two four-level spins.
Three weeks ago, the world junior silver medalist won the Skate America at her senior debut after setting her personal best free skate score of 160.16 and a total of 227.76.
"In my mind, the Russian girl who jumped successful quads is the true heroine since it's difficult even for a male skater," commented China's Olympian and five-times men's national champion Jin Boyang after his title-winning performance later on Saturday.
"I think the spirit of non-stop chasing is what pushes figure skating to keep walking forward," he said.
Jin, 22, conducted two good quadruple jumps himself, earned 176.10 points in free skate despite a planned quad toe was degraded to a double and claimed the men's title on 261.53, beating his compatriot Yan Han by a 12-point margin.
Overnight leader Yan Han was the runner-up on 249.45 after his long program with two small errors was given 162.99 points. Italian Matteo Rizzo ranked third with 241.88, while the other Chinese Zhang He finished ninth on 217.42.
Sui/Han made a strong comeback to the Grand Prix Series after a season-long absence, lifting the pairs trophy with a nearly perfect repeat of their world title-winning free skate earlier this year, beating teammates Peng Cheng/Jin Yang by 28.40 points.
Also on Saturday, world silver medalists Victoria Sinitsina and Nikita Katsalapov of Russia claimed the ice dance title with a 124.52-point performance in free dance and 209.90 overall.
Local favorites Wang Shiyue and Liu Xinyu again entertained the home crowd with their Black Swan routine, earning 111.68 in free dance and finishing fourth overall on 186.45.
A total of 60 skaters and couples representing 11 ISU members participated in the Cup of China, the fourth stop of this season's six-event Grand Prix Series in approaching to the year-end Final in Turin, Italy on December 5-8.
