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Russia's Tuktamysheva dominates ladies short program at ISU Figure Skating worlds

Xinhua, March 26, 2015 Adjust font size:

Russia's 2015 European champion Elizaveta Tuktamysheva landed a triple Axel to take a commanding lead at the ladies short program in the 2015 ISU Figure Skating worlds here on Thursday.

Tuktamysheva, 18, skated flawlessly to Bolero by Maurice Ravel, ranked first in a season best 77.62 points, followed by her teammate Elena Radionova with 69.51 and Japan's Satoko Miyahara with 67.02.

"When I landed the triple Axel, I got goosebumps and I thought - is this a dream or did I really just do the triple Axel at the World Championships? I had to pull myself together after this and I was very focused on the triple Lutz and the triple toeloop-triple toeloop," said the reigning Grand Prix final champion. "It was the first time for me to do a clean short with the triple Axel."

"It was a risk to do the triple Axel in the short program, but figure skating has to evolve. The men are doing three quads in the program and the girls also have to develop," she said.

Her teammate Radionova, 16, made a successful debut at the world championships. "I still was a little bit nervous. I am happy with the score," she said.

Japan's 2015 and 2014 Four Continents silver medallist Miyahara, also 16, danced to the Magic Flute by Wolfang Amadeus Mozart, and celebrated her birthday here in Shanghai.

"I skated with satisfaction," she said. "I can be really happy on my birthday. I was aiming to nail every element, not only the jumps but also the spins and so on."

Japan's Kanako Murakami and Rika Hongo came fourth and fifth, while China's Li Zijun was sixth in 61.83.

Li said if Beijing wins the bid of the 2022 Winter Olympic Games, she will definitely keep skating till that time.

"I think Beijing can host a successful Winter Olympic Games, and we have held a successful Summer Games," said the 18-year-old. "I am looking forward to it. If Beijing wins the bid, I will keep skating and hope I can compete in the Olympic Games then."

Li, 2014 Four Continents bronze medallist, danced to Waltz of the Flowers from "Nutcracker" by Peter I. Tchaikovski, made a few mistakes in her triple flip and triple toeloop at the beginning, but managed to find her pace back after that.

"I performed my training level," she said. "I will try to do better in the free skate."

The free skate will be held on Saturday. Enditem