Imperious Yuzuru Hanyu On Brink Of Olympic Title

Gangneung, South Korea, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 16th Feb, 2018 ) :Japan's Yuzuru Hanyu took a giant step towards retaining his Olympic figure skating title with a flawless short programme on Friday as arch-rival Nathan Chen's challenge came disastrously unstuck.

The Japanese star showed no ill effects from the right ankle injury that sidelined him for three months as he surged into a four-point lead with a score of 111.68. Six-time European champion Javier Fernandez of Spain heads the chasing pack going into Saturday's decisive free skate at the Gangneung Ice Arena on 107.

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Placed third, over seven points adrift of his compatriot, was another Japanese skater, Shoma Uno, with China's Jin Boyang lying fourth. But Chen looks down and out after two major mistakes left him towards the back of the pack in 17th.

Hanyu's bid to become the first skater since American Dick Button in 1948/52 to claim back-to-back Olympic titles could not have got off to a more encouraging start.