SHANGHAI (AP) β Maxim Kovtun of Russia led Olympic and world champion Yuzuru Hanyu of Japan after the short program at the Cup of China on Friday.
The 19-year-old Kovtun, who’s in just his second year of senior competition, was the only figure skater to attempt two quad jumps β and he landed them both perfectly. He didn’t perform a planned triple axel, but his routine was still solid enough with 85.96 points to take a three-point lead over Hanyu’s mistake-filled routine.
China’s 18-year-old Yan Han also struggled with his landings, finishing third with 79.21.
In the women’s competition, Russians Julia Lipnitskaia and Elizaveta Tuktamysheva finished first and second, respectively, well ahead of the field. Japan’s Kanako Murakami was third.
