BEIJING, Feb. 27 (Xinhua) -- Chinese figure skating star pair Sui Wenjing and Han Cong will lead the Chinese team to the 2019 ISU World Championships in Saitama, Japan.
The Saitama Worlds, which run from March 18 to 24, attract world best figure skaters, including two-time Olympic champion Yuzuru Hanyu of Japan and 2018 Olympic champion Alina Zagitova of Russia.
Sui/Han, winners of the 2017 Helsinki Worlds, missed most of the season due to injuries but they made a strong comeback by winning the Four Continents Figure Skating Championships earlier this month. The Pyeongchang Games runners-up are the gold favorites at the Saitama Worlds. Another Chinese pair, Peng Cheng/Jin Yang, third placed at the Four Continents, will also participate the Worlds.
"Sui/Han and Peng/Jin are at their top form," said Zhao Hongbo, head coach of the Chinese figure skating team. "Sui/Han are trying to improve some of the details in their program, while Peng/Jin are much better in techniques and exhibition this season."
Chinese star figure skater Jin Boyang will take part in the men's competition. Jin, who had been struggling for form earlier the season, found his rhythm back and took a silver at the Four Continents.
"It's good that Jin find his form back before the World Championships," said Zhao. "I hope he can be his top level at the Worlds."
Rising star 16-year-old Chen Hongyi, will participate the ladies' competition. It will be her first World Championships.
Wang Shiyue/Liu Xinyu will take part in the ice dance, while Chen Hong/Sui Zhuoming are substitutes.
