Japanese figure skater Hanyu sets new world record

Japan's Olympic figure skating champion Yuzuru Hanyu broke his own world best in the short programme at the NHK Trophy on Friday, posting an eye-popping score of 106.33 points.

After Chinese teenager Jin Boyang earned 95.64 for a dazzling skate in Nagano, Hanyu responded in style as he nailed every element, including an exquisite quadruple toe-loop, triple toe-loop combination that triggered squeals of joy from his legions of female fans.

"You try not to think about your rivals but I saw (Jin's) skate on TV and told myself to get out there and beat his score," Hanyu told reporters after eclipsing his own previous high of 101.45 set at the 2014 Sochi Olympics.

"I'm surprised and I'm happy, but mostly relieved. It shows I've been working on the right things in practice. People might think 'Hanyu is back' but I know I've still got room to improve."

Skating to Chopin's "Ballad No. 1", Hanyu finished with a flourish, striking a matador's pose as the music ended and pumping his fists before being greeted with a hug from coach Brian Orser after putting a disappointing recent runner-up finish in Canada firmly behind him.

Victory in Nagano would assure Hanyu's berth at the Grand Prix Final in Barcelona from December 10-13.

Hanyu's countryman Takahito Mura lies third after a score of 88.29 with Russian Maxim Kovtun perhaps fortunate to be fourth with 82.27 after an error-strewn display and crashing to the ice after a fluffed triple axel, ironically while skating to the Genesis song "I Can't Dance."

Japan's Mao Asada suffered a setback in the ladies competition as she looked to continue her winning comeback after victory in China earlier this month.

The triple world champion fell on a triple axel attempt and finished in fourth after the short skate, behind compatriot Satoko Miyahara and Americans Courtney Hicks and Ashley Wagner.

The pint-sized Miyahara produced a flawless routine to lead on 69.53 points from Hicks with 65.60 and Wagner on 63.71.

Asada, who took a year off from the sport, posted a score of 62.50.

"I can't be happy with that," said Asada. "You have to make sure you land all your jumps on the ice so clearly I still have work to do."

World champions Meagan Duhamel and Eric Radford of Canada posted the highest score in the pairs short programme with 71.04 points as they look to secure their spot in the Grand Prix Final. Americans Alexa Scimeca and Chris Knierim were second (68.43) with China's Yu Xiaoyu and Jin Yang third (67.00).
Source: AFP