China's elite figure skating duo, Shen Xue and Zhao Hongbo, are
to compete at the 2006 World Figure Skating Championships.
The two-time world champions have confirmed their participation
Friday in Beijing.
Shen Xue disclosed that they would leave for the world
championships in Canada within two weeks.
The duo has won the tournament twice - in 2002 and 2003. They
were runners-up in 2004, but missed the final skate when male
skater Zhao Hongbo's suffered a foot injury.
They have also won a bronze medal in the just concluded Olympic
Winter Games in Turin, Italy.
They won't, however, be competing against their arch rivals,
Russia's Tatiana Totmianina and Maxim Marinin who have announced
retirement after winning at the Turin Olympics last month.
(CRI English March 4, 2006)
