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BEIJING : Nobunari Oda and Akiko Suzuki completed a Japanese sweep of the men's and women's individual events at the Cup of China in Beijing on Saturday.
Meanwhile, China's husband and wife team of Shen Xue and Zhao Hongbo dazzled the home crowd to take the pairs competition with a triumphant return following their retirement after winning the 2007 world title.
Oda, finishing at 239.58 points, had needed a win at the two-day meet in Beijing's Capital Gymnasium to book a spot in the Grand Prix final in Tokyo in December.
Beijing gave him his second Cup victory this year and a boost as he bids for the Olympic podium in Vancouver in February.
World champion Evan Lysacek of the United States finished behind Oda at 232.17, keeping his momentum alive heading into Vancouver while Russia's Sergei Voronov came third at 220.39.
In the women's competition, Suzuki leapt to first place following a fourth-best spot on the first day by winning with 176.66 points on a solid performance aided by mistakes by key challengers.
Mirai Nagasu, the 16-year-old American, had led overall after day one but stumbled in Saturday's free skate to tumble to fifth place.
Kiira Korpi from Finland took second on 163.27 points.
Canada's Joannie Rochette, who is gearing up for the Olympics on home soil, salvaged a third-place finish at 163.18 with a strong free skate after the world silver medallist entered the final day in the seventh spot.
Former Olympic medallists Shen and Zhao made their debut in competition after retiring in 2007, a hiatus during which they got married, and had reason to celebrate.
The pair, who were atop the tables after the first day, were dominant again on Saturday, finishing with 200.97 points to easily beat highly regarded compatriots Zhang Dan and Zhang Hao, who were on 186.49.
The Ukrainian team of Tatiana Volosozhar and Stanislav Morozov came third at 170.79.
The American pair of Tanith Belbin and Benjamin Agosto rounded out the competition with victory in the ice dancing on a combined score of 194.51.
The were followed by Jana Khokhlova and Sergei Novitski of Russia with 180.57 points and Italy's Federica Faiella and Massimo Scali on 179.92.
- AFP /ls
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