Home favourites impress at Cup of China

The Chinese duo scored 72.49 for their routine to put them clear of nearest rivals Liubov Ilyuschechkina and Dylan Moscovitch of Canada, who scored 71.28 to break up the Chinese dominance of the pairs event on Friday.

Cheng Peng and Yang Jin are third on 69.93 followed by compatriots Xuehan Wang and Lei Wang on 66.45, ahead of Saturday's free skate.

World bronze medallist Boyang Jin also impressed for the host nation in the men's short program, recording an impressive score of 96.17, which was comfortably clear of his nearest challenger Daniel Samohin of Israel on 83.47 and three-time World Champion Patrick Chan of Canada on 83.41.

If Jin goes on to win the Cup of China after Saturday's free skate, he will surpass American Adam Rippon in the Grand Prix qualifying standings.

Elsewhere Canada's Kaitlyn Weaver and Andrew Poje topscored in the ice dancing short dance with 73.78, narrowly ahead of Americans Maia and Alex Shibutani.

And in the ladies competition, it is Canadian Kaetlyn Osmond who leads the way after the short program, after scoring 72.20 for her routine. Sportsbeat 2016