Chinese figure skating team is expected to win in pairs

FIGURE SKATING

Chinese team is expected to win in pairs

One of the marquee events of the Winter Olympics, figure skating, gets underway with the pairs short program. Shen Xue and Zhao Hongbo of China are the gold-medal favorites, with Pang Qing and Yong Jian of China and Alona Savchenko and Robin Szolkowy of Germany also medal threats. Russians have won the gold in this event every Olympics since 1964.

FREESTYLE SKIING

Deneen could shine in moguls

World champion Patrick Deneen of the U.S. should contend for a men’s moguls medal, but the favorite going into the competition is Dale Begg-Smith of Australia. Also keep your eye on Guilbaut Colas of France and Jesper Bjornlund of Sweden.

HOCKEY

U.S. women to face China

The U.S. women take to the ice to face China. The U.S. team is in the same group with China, Finland and Russia and should have little trouble advancing to the medal round.

LUGE

Men’s singles to conclude

The last two runs of the men’s singles competition are held today. The start of the men’s run was moved farther down the track Saturday after the death of a Georgian competitor in a training run Friday.

-- Houston Mitchell