Figure skater Li happy to strive for pairs

China's ladies' singles ­figure skater Li Xiangning said she is happy to skate in the pairs competition.

The 18-year-old national champion, who finished in the 22th place at the 2018 Olympics, watched a training session of the national gymnastics team together with other 17 skaters at the weekend, as a part of the figure skating squad's lesson to start a new Olympiad.

Through learning, Li said, she was able to better carry out the combination of different movements and better improve the level of her action in pairs.

Li, who was named in the recently released national team roster - not only as a singles skater but also a pairs skater - took part in the national pairs team's training session in April to start her "double play" on both events.

Li was placed 14th in 2017 world championships, which earned China a berth of women's singles to the Winter Games in Pyeongchang, South Korea.

The ladies' figure skating is dominated by powerhouses Russia, Japan and the US. China's only Olympic figure skating medalist was Chen Lu, who clinched bronze medal in both 1994 and 1998 Olympics.

Facing the problem of distribution of time and energy, Li - who was hailed for her spirit of fighting and challenging herself - said most of her time and energy is now on pair skating and she has less time to practice in women's singles.

"It's a new journey, but I still hope that I can do my best in the singles," she said.

As for her next goals and expectations, Li said, "I hope to have a better cooperation with my partner, to strive for some breakthroughs on international stage, and also, I want to try my best in women's singles."