Mar.22 - China's Shen Xue and Zhao Hongbo captured their third pairs gold medals in six years Wednesday at the World Figure Skating Championship in Tokyo.

 

Shen and Zhao took first in Tuesday's short program and came back Wednesday with another first in the free skate to reclaim the pairs title they previously won in 2002 and 2003.

 

The Chinese duo finished second at the 2004 Worlds and Zhao had an ankle injury that kept them out of the 2005 event. They returned to the ice last year and won bronze medals at the 2006 Olympics in Turin, Italy.

 

Their point total of 203.50 easily outdistanced the 188.46 points from their compatriots and defending world champions Pang Qing and Tong Jian, who finished second.

 

Third place went to Germans Aliona Savchenko and Robin Szolkowy, who had 187.39 points.