Japanese figure skater Asada makes strong comeback in Cup of China

Three-time world champion Mao Asada shone in her first international comeback show as she skated to a comfortable lead at Cup of China Grand Prix here on Friday.

   Japan's figure skating diva became center of the attention in her first Grand Prix in two years after taking a leave following her gold at the 2014 world championships. 

   She started the short program with her trademark triple axels to the soundtrack Bei Mir Bist Du Schoen and thunderous cheers from the Chinese spectators in the Capital Gymnasium where she competed in her first senior Grand Prix 10 years ago and finished second. 

   "Ten years is a very long time but how time flies," said the 25-year-old. "I look at the stadium and it has changed a lot and also the environment."

   Asada earned 71.73 points, leaving another Japanese skater Rika Hongo to a distant second in 65.79. Courtney Hicks was third in 62.38. Chinese Li Zijun stood fifth in 58.62. 

   "I am pleased with my performance," she said. 

   In ice dance, former world champions Anna Cappellini and Luca Lanotte of Italy had a bad fall in the warm-up but their dance was enough to earn them 66.39 points to lead the field. This year's Shanghai world championship runners-up Madison Chock and Evan Bates stood a close second on 65.36. Russians Elena Ilinykh and Ruslan Zhiganshin came third in 63.54.

   The Italian pair admitted that the little incident just before the competition put a dent on their performance.

   "That was quite an unexpected fall. We both hit our heads. We tried to ingore that but we felt that it affected our performance," said Cappellini. They just missed the podium in Shanghai in March.  Endi