Asada leads Rostelecom Cup after short program
MOSCOW (AP)—Mao Asada skated a clean short program Friday at the Rostelecom Cup to lead Alena Leonova of Russia by less than half a point in the last of the season’s six Grand Prix competitions.
Both Asada, a two-time world champion from Japan, and Leonova are coming back from mediocre seasons last year.
Asada, skating to Rimsky-Korsakov’s “Sheherazade,” evoked the music’s changing moods with her movements, appearing alternately relaxed and passionate. One of the few women skaters able to perform a triple axel, she elected for only a double in the short program, but did it with assurance, and added a triple flip-double loop combination.
“I did everything I intended to do,” Asada said.
The Japanese skater already has a silver from this year’s NHK Trophy, so a medal in Moscow would likely put her in the Grand Prix Final.
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