Japan's Mao Asada performs in the ladies short program at the Grand Prix of Figure Skating in Nagoya, central Japan, Friday, Oct. 22, 2010. (AP Photo/Junji Kurokawa) Photo Credit: AP Photo

World champion Mao Asada could only finish eighth in the women’s short programme at the NHK Trophy in Nagoya as Carolina Kostner took the lead.
Japan’s Asada finished the day on just 47.95 points after two-footing the landing on her opening triple axel and singling a triple flip.

Italy’s Kostner heads the standing at the halfway point of the ladies’ competition at the first of six grand prix events this season after she earned 57.27 points for her programme skated to Galicia Flamenco.

World junior champion Kanako Murakami of Japan is second with 56.10 points, with the USA’s Rachael Flatt third on 53.69.

“Tonight was not perfect,” Asada said of her routine with new coach Nobuo Sato. “I’ve been feeling only 50 per cent with this routine at practice. Sometimes it’s good, sometimes it’s bad.”

USA’s Meryl Davis and Charlie White lead the ice dance category after the short dance. The Olympic silver medallists scored 66.97 points to top the standings ahead of Canada’s Kaitlyn Weaver and Andrew Poje (58.69) and Russia’s Elena Ilinykh and Nikita Katsalapov (56.89).

“I think it was a solid performance given that it’s early in the season,” Flatt said. “I feel pretty good about my chances.”

The pairs short programme is going to form with world champions Qing Pang and Jia Tong of China claiming the lead with a score of 67.10 points.

Vera Bazarova and Yuri Larionov of Russia were second with 60.16 points, while Narumi Takahashi and Mervin Tran of Japan were third with 57.23.
Eurosport

source: uk.eurosport.yahoo.com
ckjapan