Reigning world champions Sui Wenjing and Han Cong of China grabbed the lead in the short program with a season-best score Wednesday, but Japanese pair Miu Suzaki and Ryuichi Kihara were eliminated before the free skate at the Pyeongchang Olympics.

Skating to K.D. Lang's cover of the Leonard Cohen classic Hallelujah, Sui and Han delivered a mesmerizing performance at Gangneung Ice Arena to top the standings ahead of Thursday's long program with 82.39 points.

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"I was very emotional today. Even when I was putting on my make-up, I was already crying," said Sui. "I just felt very nervous. But after we got on the ice and finished our routine I realized that's all there is to it."

"Maybe we gave ourselves too much pressure. But as athletes and a representative of China, as long as you express yourself to your fullest that's all you can do."

Han said, "We were in good shape today. I think we reached our potential in the short program and it feels very satisfying. In a way all the ups and downs we've been through to get here matches the emotions of the choreography of our routine pretty well."

Olympic Athlete from Russia pair Evgenia Tarasova and Vladimir Morozov, the final pair to take to the ice, skated into second place, scoring 81.68. Former two-time world champions Meagan Duhamel and Eric Radford of Canada were third with 76.82.

The Japanese pair failed to make the top 16 of 22 pairs who progress to the free skate, despite recording a personal-best 57.74. Suzaki and Kihara placed 21st.

"The Japan Skating Federation doctors and staff have all provided assistance and I was somehow able to skate today," said Kihara, who hurt his right hand catching Suzaki on a twist lift on Tuesday. "I just wanted to skate and not think about points. It was a good performance so I am pleased," he added.

Suzaki said, "We keep putting our best out there and that is getting reflected in the scores we are putting up. In order to close the gap on the top pairs, we have to keep improving both our technique and composition but for the time being I am happy."