Days earlier Tong's injured tendon flared up but the pair decided to compete at the season opener rather than disappoint a boisterous home crowd and surrender crucial points.

"We did not want to withdraw, otherwise we would not be able to accumulate enough points for the GP finals," said Tong.

"We will battle on and hope to rediscover our form soon. The free skating will be a physical challenge but we think we can do better than today."

Both leading Chinese pairs have adopted new routines for this season with which they hope to dazzle judges and add to China's success at the sport.

"But our biggest priority ahead of that is getting over these injuries and regaining our confidence," said Tong, who skated to Gary Moore's Blues in the short program.

In other events, Russia's Oksana Domnina and Maxim Shabali placed first in the ice dancing and Kim Yu-na of South Korea led the pack in the women's singles after the short program yesterday.

The ice dancing competition started yesterday with the compulsory Viennese waltz. Defending Grand Prix champs Domnina and Shabali of Russia were first with 38.34 points, followed by 2006 Winter Olympic silver medalists Tanith Belbin and Benjamin Agosto of the United States with 37.15.

The four-day Cup of China will continue today with the pairs free skating, ice dancing original dance and men's short program.

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