Chen captures first Grand Prix final crown

NAGOYA (Japan): American teenager Nathan Chen on Friday grabbed his first Grand Prix Final title, boding well ahead of February’s Olympics, while Kaetlyn Osmond of Canada took the lead after the women’s short programme.

Chen, who led the previous day’s short routine, earned 286.51 points in total, edging runner-up Shoma Uno of Japan, who earned 286.01 points, disappointing fans in Nagoya, his hometown.

The reigning US champion opened with a dazzling quad Lutz-triple toeloop combination in his free skating.

The 18-year-old later fell on the ice but quickly recovered with superb jumps and elegant staking to Mao’s Last Dancer and Sacre du Printemps.

Uno -- who won silver at the world championships earlier this year -- beat Chen in his free skating but his fall in the first leap dashed hopes for his first Grand Prix final title.

On the women’s side, Osmond outperformed 15year-old Alina Zagitova of Russia, who won gold on her grand prix debut in Beijing last month.

Osmond nailed all her elements in style, earning 77.04 points, followed by Zagitova with 76.27 points.

Local favourite Satoko Miyahara, who reached the top of the podium in November for the first time in two years, finished third with 74.61 points.

The women’s field was shadowed by the absence of two-time world champion Evgenia Medvedeva, who missed the prestigious competition due to an injury.

The women’s free skating will take place on Saturday. - AFP