Chinese champions Zhang Dan and Zhang Hao have won the pairs' gold medal at the Four Continents Figure Skating Championships in Gangneung, South Korea.  

They produced the best performance and captured the top spot in free pairs program on the second day of the tournament.

(Zhang Dan and Zhang Hao of China, Sina photo)

Defending Champions Pang Qing and Tong Jian of China took the silver medal with four points deficit.

American pairs champions Katie Orscher and Garrett Lucash trailed the two Chinese couples to capture the bronze.

(Katie Orscher and Garrett Lucash, Sina photo)

The Four Continents competition is the second major championship to adopt the new scoring system instituted after the pairs skating scandal in Salt Lake City.

Instead of the old 6.0 system, marking is now based on a cumulative total of points gained by jumps, spins and stepwork, as well as artistic skills such as choreography and interpretation.

Although the new scoring system has been used for two years on the Grand Prix circuit, the European championships in Turin, Italy, two weeks ago was its first ISU championship. It will also be in place at the world championships at Moscow in March and the 2006 Winter Olympics. 

Editor: Guang