Chen rebounds at Worlds

From local and wire dispatches

Nathan Chen, who flopped in the Olympics, went some way toward atoning for his dreadful Olympic short programs in Pyeongchang by leading after the men’s short program Thursday at the World Figure Skating Championships in Assago, Italy.

He scored 101.94, a huge improvement on the 82.27 which cost him a medal at the Olympics.

Chen, 18, was the best American hope for figure skating gold at the Winter Games last month but he struggled to cope with the pressure and the demands for his time.

In pairs, Olympic figure skating champions Aliona Savchenko and Bruno Massot of Germany set a world record as they claimed their first world championship.

Soccer

Juventus, which is pursuing a seventh consecutive Serie A title, will play in Major League Soccer’s AllStar Game Aug. 1 in Atlanta. Real Madrid won last year’s game against the MLS AllStars in Chicago on penalty kicks.

Harness racing

The Meadows will offer a $15,000 total-pool guarantee for its Pick 5 wager Saturday. The guarantee was added after Tuesday’s Pick 5 went uncovered.

Boxing

The Western Pennsylvania Police Athletic League will stage Golden Glove bouts at 7 p.m. March 31 at Royal Place, 2660 Library Road. There will be a boxing Hall of Fame dinner before the bouts. For tickets or information, call 412-298-7373.

Auto racing

Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s famous No. 8, which he drove for nine seasons, will return for two Cup series races this year. Xfinity series driver Daniel Hemric will make his Cup series debut in the No. 8 car April 21 at Richmond Raceway. He will drive it again Sept. 30 at the new Charlotte Motor Speedway road course.

Elsewhere

Tennessee agreed to pay former athletic director John Currie $2.5 million as part of a settlement reached less than four months after he was suspended in the midst of a football coaching search and the school was trying to fire him for cause.