Japanese teen Kaori Sakamoto eyes winter Olympic Games after topping figure skating short programme in Hong Kong
World junior bronze medallist takes charge ahead of compatriot Yuna Shiraiwa during the first day at Mega Ice in Kowloon Bay
Japan’s world junior bronze medallist Kaori Sakamoto topped the ladies’ figure skating short programme in Hong Kong on Friday as the talented youngster set her sights on the 2018 Pyeongchang Winter Olympic Games.
The 17-year-old sounded a warning in her first major event since capturing the World Junior bronze in March with a score of 63.7 in the Asian Open Figure Skating Trophy at Mega Ice in Kowloon Bay.
“There will be seven figure skaters competing for two Olympic spots for Japan,” said Sakamoto, who will continue with the second part of event in the free skating on Saturday. “The battle for making it to the Olympics is fierce from my country but I am keen to make it. The Olympics is the biggest dream for any athlete.”
Japanese skaters were dominant in the women’s event with Yuna Shiraiwa taking second place in the short programme with 62.03 points. She was followed by Kailani Craine, of Australia, with 54.3.
Joanna So was Hong Kong’s best performer, taking seventh place after the withdrawal of United States-based Maisy Ma Hiu-ching because of a nagging ankle problem.
