Hanyu dominates men’s short program at NHK Trophy

SAPPORO, Japan — Olympic champion Yuzuru Hanyu recorded a season-best score to dominate the men’s short program at the NHK Trophy on Friday while Canada’s Meagan Duhamel and Eric Radford were second after the pairs short program.

Skating to Prince’s “Let’s Go Crazy,” Hanyu stumbled on the landing of his opening quad loop. The defending champion from Japan was otherwise flawless, receiving 103.89 points.

“I regret not being able to land the first quad,” Hanyu said. “I feel like there was much more I could’ve done but I really enjoyed the short program and feel I will be able to carry the momentum over to tomorrow.”

After the quad loop, Hanyu added a quad salchow-triple toeloop combination and triple axel.

Nathan Chen of the United States was second with 87.94 points, followed by Keiji Tanaka of Japan with 80.49.

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Elladj Balde of Pierrefonds, Que., was fifth and Toronto’s Nam Nguyen was sixth. Toronto’s Patrick Chan is not entered in this week’s competition. 

Peng Cheng and Yang Jin of China were first after the pairs short program with 73.33 points, edging Duhamel, from Lively, Ont., and Radford, from Balmertown, Ont., who had 72.95. Wang Xuehan and Wang Lei of China were third with 65.66 points.

Hanyu was second in Skate Canada and is looking to wrap up a berth in the Dec. 8-11 Grand Prix Final in Marseille, France, with a win in Sapporo.

“Compared to Skate Canada, I’m feeling better about my program,” Hanyu said. “I have to make sure I execute everything in the free program.”

World bronze medallist Anna Pogorilaya of Russia received 71.56 points to lead the women’s short program.

“I’m happy with (my) performance today,” Pogorilaya said. “I don’t think I showed everything I could and made some small mistakes but it was very satisfying.”

Maria Sotskova, also from Russia, was second with 69.96 points, followed by Satoko Miyahara of Japan with 64.20. Alaine Chartrand of Prescott, Ont., was eighth.

The men’s, women’s and pairs events conclude Saturday with the free skate.

The NHK Trophy is the sixth and final event in the International Skating Union’s Grand Prix series.

Jim Armstrong, The Associated Press

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