BEIJING - World champion Evgeni Plushenko and former world champion Irina Slutskaya won Grand Prix Final titles Saturday, and a Chinese pair won before home fans.
Slutskaya took the women's title after missing last year because of illness. The Russian previously won three straight years, 2000-2002, and captured the Olympic silver medal. Current world champion Shizuka Arakawa of Japan was second, Joannie Rochette of Canada third.
Plushenko scored 251.75 points, far ahead of Buttle's 216.65. The three-time world champion won with a dynamic program that included a quad and eight triples.
Jeff Buttle of Canada was second after missing last year's event because of food poisoning. Li Chengjiang of China was third with a program that included two quad jumps.
China's She Xue and Zhao Hongbo, who train in the competition's rink and live a short distance away, took the pairs title with gravity-defying throws and twists.
"It is hard to skate in our hometown because there are so many people expecting us to do well," Zhao said.
Plushenko wasn't expecting to compete at this event. He skated in just one competition, the Cup of Russia, and beat series leader Johnny Weir of the United States before making the field when Weir dropped out because of a foot injury.
It was Plushenko's fourth overall GP title. The Russian lost out last year when he completed one too many combinations, which wasn't allowed at the time.
"Now we know the rules," he said.
HORSES: Two win big at Miami
Arvada held on by a head and Dreadnaught closed with a rush, both winning $200,000 graded features Saturday at Calder Race Course in Miami. Arvada, ridden by Edgar Prado, won the 11/2-mile La Prevoyante Handicap for mares and fillies on the grass in 2:27 and paid $8, $3.80 and $3.40. Humaita was second, Honey Ryder third. In the W.L. McKnight Handicap for males 3 years old and older, Dreadnaught was timed in 2:26 3-5 to win the 11/2-mile race on the grass. Dreadnaught paid $8.20, $4.60 and $3.80, beating Demeteor and Scooter Ranch.
AQUEDUCT: Rare Gift scored a six-length victory over Board Elligible in the 134th running of the Grade III, $108,000 Ladies Handicap for 3-year-old and up fillies and mares at New York. Ridden by Richard Migliore, Rare Gift covered the 11/4 miles in 2:05 2-5 and returned $10.40, $5.50 and $4.50. Board Elligible paid $5.00 and $4.00, and Miss Fortunate paid $4.40 to show in the field of eight.
TENNIS: Henin-Hardenne returns
Former No. 1 Justine Henin-Hardenne competed for the first time since September, losing an exhibition match to Nathalie Dechy 6-2, 7-5. Henin-Hardenne's appearance at the Women's Tennis Trophy in Charleroi, Belgium, began her preparations for defending her Australian Open title. She dropped to eighth in the WTA rankings this year and had not played since losing in the fourth round of the U.S. Open. She was sidelined by an energy-sapping virus that weakened her since April and continued to affect her strength. Despite her medical problems, she won five of nine official tournaments she entered in a year capped with an Olympic gold medal.
ET CETERA
SKIING: Max Rauffer captured a downhill in Val Gardena, Italy, in strong winds for his first World Cup victory, a race in which all the favorites faired poorly. Overall World Cup leader Bode Miller, an American, blamed the difficult conditions for his 14th-place finish. The course was shortened slightly because of the gusts. ... A women's World Cup downhill in Val D'Isere, France, was postponed because of a snowstorm. ... At Engelberg, Switzerland, Janne Ahonen won for the sixth time in seven ski jumping World Cup events this season to stretch his extensive series lead.
VOLLEYBALL: Stanford won the NCAA women's championship with a 30-23, 30-27, 30-21 victory over Minnesota at Long Beach, Calif. The 11th-seeded Cardinal rallied in the second and third games to win. The win was their 15th straight and sixth NCAA title for Stanford.
