Amid uncertainties and challenges imposed by the COVID-19, the 2020 Cup of China, third event of this season's International Skating Union (ISU) Figure Skating Grand Prix Series will finally be staged from November 6 to 8 in Chongqing, the same host city as in last year's event.

At the event's news conference held in Chongqing on Thursday, all the skaters who have already confirmed to participate have been revealed. 

Two-time world pairs champions Sui Wenjing and Han Cong, together with two-time world bronze medalist Jin Boyang led the squad, which is also joined by new stars such as two-time Grand Prix Final silver medalists Peng Cheng and Jin Yang, as well as Wang Shiyue and Liu Xinyu as China's promising ice dancer pairs. 

Since the coronavirus pandemic began to wreak havoc early this year, the international figure skating community has been hit hard. Beginning with the cancellation of the 2020 world championships slated early this year in Montreal, the Grand Prix Final, which has been originally scheduled for December 10 to 13 in Beijing as one of the test events for Beijing 2022 has also been postponed. 

This Wednesday, Skate Canada, the second stop of the six-event Grand Prix series was also scrapped due to the health and safety concerns over the COVID-19. 

Lucky to remain on the calendar, the Cup of China will become the only event for ISU to stage in China this year. It will also be the 18th year for China to host the event served as one leg of ISU's figure skating Grand Prix series. 

"Due to the coronavirus pandemic this year, our skaters had few competition opportunities. That made our team only look forward to and cherish the upcoming Cup of China," said Zhao Hongbo, head coach of the Chinese figure skating team. 

"The Chinese team is now working hard to make preparations in Beijing. All the skaters will try their best in Chongqing."

Thanks to the ISU's decision to downsize this season's Grand Prix events to more localized events with mainly domestic skaters and skaters who train in the host country to participate, the Cup of China has seen a sharp decrease in the number of this year's participants. 

It will only feature one group of skaters in each competing category, which means only four free skating pairs, six male skaters, six female skaters together with five ice dance pairs will compete at the Cup of China. 

At the ladies' group, only China's ace female skater Chen Hongyi has automatically qualified and confirmed her participation. China's two young female skates Lin Shan and Zhu Yi are expected to participate at Skate America as they are currently training overseas.

(Cover image: Sui Wenjing and Han Cong of China perform at the Gala Exhibition during day three of the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Cup of China at Huaxi Sports Center in Chongqing, China, November 10, 2019. /VCG)