Germany's Hase and Volodin win pairs at Beijing Grand Prix Final / Photo: WANG Zhao - AFP
-
Netherlands-Hungary Nations League match interrupted by medical emergency
-
Kolbe double as South Africa condemn England to fifth successive defeat
-
Kolbe at the double as South Africa condemn England to fresh defeat
-
Kolbe at the double as South Africa beat England 29-20
-
'If I don't feel ready, I won't play singles,' says Nadal ahead of Davis Cup farewell
-
Fifth of dengue cases due to climate change: researchers
-
Trump's Republican allies tread lightly on Paris pact at COP29
-
Graham equals record as nine-try Scotland see off tenacious Portugal
-
Protesters hold pro-Palestinian march in Rio ahead of G20
-
Graham equals record as nine-try Scotland see off dogged Portugal
-
China's Xi urges APEC unity in face of 'protectionism'
-
Japan's Kagiyama, Yoshida sweep gold in Finland GP
-
Macron to press Milei on climate action, multilateralism in Argentina talks
-
Fritz reaches ATP Finals title decider with Sampras mark in sight
-
All eyes on G20 for breakthrough as COP29 climate talks stall
-
Fritz battles past Zverev to reach ATP Finals title decider
-
Xi, Biden to meet as Trump return looms
-
Kane warns England must protect team culture under new boss
-
Italy beat Japan to reach BJK Cup semi-finals
-
Farmers target PM Starmer in protest against new UK tax rules
-
Shiffrin masters Levi slalom for 98th World Cup win
-
Italy's Donnarumma thankful for Mbappe absence in France showdown
-
McIlroy in three-way tie for Dubai lead
-
Bagnaia wins Barcelona MotoGP sprint to take season to final race
-
Ukraine's Zelensky says wants to end war by diplomacy next year
-
Shiffrin wins Levi slalom for 98th World Cup victory
-
Israel pummels south Beirut as Lebanon mulls truce plan
-
Religious Jews comfort hostages' families in Tel Aviv
-
German Greens' Robert Habeck to lead bruised party into elections
-
Johnson bags five as Australia beat Pakistan to seal T20 series
-
Zelensky says wants to end war by diplomacy next year
-
Rugby Union: Wales v Australia - three talking points
-
10 newborns killed in India hospital fire
-
Veteran Le Cam leads Vendee Globe as Sorel is first to quit
-
Bagnaia on pole for Barcelona MotoGP, Martin fourth
-
UN climate chief urges G20 to spur tense COP29 negotiations
-
Rauf takes four as Pakistan hold Australia to 147-9 in 2nd T20
-
World not listening to us, laments Kenyan climate scientist at COP29
-
Philippines warns of 'potentially catastrophic' Super Typhoon Man-yi
-
Wales take on Australia desperate for victory to avoid unwanted record
-
Tyson beaten by Youtuber Paul in heavyweight return
-
Taylor holds off bloodied Serrano to retain undisputed crown
-
Japan PM expresses concern to Xi over South China Sea situation
-
Tens of thousands flee as Super Typhoon Man-yi nears Philippines
-
Hoilett gives Canada win in Suriname as Mexico lose to Honduras
-
Davis, James spark Lakers over Spurs while Cavs stay perfect
-
Mushroom houses for Gaza? Arab designers offer home-grown innovations
-
Gabon votes on new constitution hailed by junta as 'turning point'
-
Young Libyans gear up for their first ever election
-
Vice tightens around remaining civilians in eastern Ukraine
NYSE - LSE
Germany's Hase and Volodin win pairs at Beijing Grand Prix Final
Germany's Minerva Fabienne Hase and Nikita Volodin won the pairs competition at the Grand Prix Final in Beijing on Friday, inching past their closest rivals by half a point.
Despite coming second in Friday's free skating to Italy's Sara Conti and Niccolo Macii, the German team's strong showing the day before in the short programme led to a final score of 206.43 to the Italians' 205.88.
Volodin had been ill just before the event, the pair said on Thursday.
"We are super, super happy, we came into this competition with no expectation and ending with first place is more than we could wish for," said a delighted Hase just minutes after getting off the ice.
The pair have only been skating together since October 2022, but won the season's Grand Prix Finland and the NHK Trophy.
"You just have to work even harder and have a good partner," said Hase when asked their secret.
Their success was hard fought, with the top three competitors all scoring within around two points of each other.
European champions Conti and Macii's free skate earned a score of 135.58 -- a personal best -- with Hase and Volodin on 133.87.
After finishing their routine to the "Cinema Paradiso" soundtrack, Conti looked joyful as she stepped off the rink to enthusiastic plaudits from their coach.
Canada's Deanna Stellato-Dudek and Maxime Deschamps, who came second in the short programme, dropped to third on Friday.
Skating to "Interview with a Vampire" and dressed in black with crimson jewels glittering on their chests, a few imperfect landings saw them obtain 133.08 for a final score of 204.30.
Forty-year-old Stellato-Dudek, who began skating again in 2016 after 16 years off the ice, said afterwards that they had performed "way below our expectations", according to skating news site Golden Skate.
"My standards are higher than anyone can imagine... It is new for us that people are having major expectations and are expecting us to win. We need to adapt to that."
A.Jones--AMWN