China's Pang, Tong win Worlds pairs title

TURIN, Italy, March 24 (UPI) -- China's Pang Qing and Tong Jian claimed the pairs title Wednesday at the World Figure Skating Championships in Turin, Italy.

The Vancouver Olympics silver medalists posted a combined score of 211.39 after the free skate, besting two-time defending champions Aliona Savchenko and Robin Szolkowy of Germany (204.74) and Russia's Yuko Kavaguti and Alexander Smirnov (203.79).

Maria Mukhortova and Maxim Trankov of Russia claimed fourth place with 197.39 points, while Americans Caydee Denney and Jeremy Barrett finished seventh with 172.47 points.

Also on Wednesday, Japan's Daisuke Takahashi took the men's competition lead after the short program.

Takahashi, who won the bronze medal last month at the Winter Olympics in Vancouver, Canada, totaled 89.30 points. Canadian skater Patrick Chan was in second with 87.80 points, just ahead of Frenchman Brian Joubert (87.70).

Both Takahashi and Chan scored 47.40 in technical elements but the Japanese skater was given a 41.90 -- the highest mark of the night -- for Program Component while Chan received 40.40 points. Joubert had the highest technical elements score (47.90) but lagged in the Program Component.

The men's competition wraps up Thursday with the free skate.