BEIJING, Nov. 26 (Xinhua) -- China's figure skating pair Yu Xiaoyu/Zhang Hao took a silver medal at the Bridgestone Skate America in Lake Placid on Sunday, while China's world bronze medallist Jin Boyang finished 4th. Both qualified for the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final.
Yu/Zhang delivered a strong program, producing a triple Salchow, triple twist, throw triple loop and Salchow as well as two level-four lifts. The Audi Cup of China silver medalists earned 145.53 points, a new personal best, for a total of 219.20 points, to take second place.
"We performed well," said Zhang. "It's a close competition. If we take third, we will miss the Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final."
World silver medalists Aliona Savchenko/Bruno Massot of Germany soared to victory with a total of 223.13 pints. Two-time World Champions Meagan Duhamel/Eric Radford of Canada dropped to third after the free skate with a total of 215.68 points. The two pairs also qualify for the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final.
In the men's competition, China's Jin was not on his top due to injuries and the runner-up of Cup of China only managed a fourth place with 246.03 points overall, but he still made it to the Grand Prix Final as the sixth and last qualifier.
Four Continents champion Nathan Chen of the United States held on to first place with a total of 275.88 points. Veteran Adam Rippon of the United States took the silver medal and the bronze went to Russia's Sergei Voronov. All three qualify for the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final.
Bridgestone Skate America is the sixth and last event in the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating series and provides the last opportunity for skaters to qualify for the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final in Nagoya, Japan, in December.
The top six skaters/couples in each discipline qualify for the Final. The global prize money for the Grand Prix is US$ 272,000.
