Skaters set to create magic

Shanghai, Jan. 30: Figure skaters Sui Wenjing and Han Cong have weathered injury, controversy and rampant speculation about their personal lives. Now all that’s left is to deliver gold for China at the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics.

Plenty depends on the photogenic duo, who are the pairs world champions and Olympic favourites, as victory would go a long way towards igniting Chinese interest in winter sports before the Beijing 2022 Winter Games.

While China is a powerhouse of the Summer Games, they lag behind in winter sports — something they badly want to fix before Beijing becomes the host city in four years’ time.

Sui, 22, underwent such extensive surgery in 2016 ● Sui, 22, underwent such extensive surgery in 2016 that she had to re- learn how to stand, walk and skate. But after she returned to win the world title with Han, 25, last year, she is setting her sights high.

that she had to re- learn how to stand, walk and skate. But after she returned to win the world title with Han, 25, last year, she is setting her sights high.

“In terms of the 2018 and 2022 Olympics, since we have won the world championship, our goal is to be Olympic champions,” Sui said, after they topped the podium at the worlds in Helsinki last March.

“The only thing standing in our way is ourselves,” she added.

It’s a bold statement, but Sui’s confidence is not unfounded.

In November alone, the

duo won the Cup of China and the NHK Trophy in Japan back- to- back, and then triumphed in Shanghai to add to their bulging medal haul.

Last year they also took gold at the Four Continents Championships at South Korea’s Gangneung — the same venue that will be used for the Olympics.

Sui and Han’s chemistry on the ice has sparked rumours online and in Chinese media that they are romantically involved, but they laugh off the gossip.

“Han Cong and I are only a couple on screen, not in real life,” Sui wrote on Weibo, China’s equivalent of Twitter, addressing the frequent rumours. “We are friends or like a Dad and daughter.”

AGE CONTROVERSY Sui and Han’s ascension to the top of figure skating pairs has had its challenges, and controversies.

In 2016, Sui missed nine months after operations on her right ankle and left foot, and was bed- ridden for three months, unable to even stand.

Her brave recovery made last year’s world championship victory all the more remarkable — and emotional.

Both from Harbin, in China’s far north, Sui and Han paired together a decade ago. — AFP