ISU Four Continents Figure Skating Championships 2024: Chiba Mone leads women after Mihara Mai and Lee Hae-in fall
Japan's Chiba is top after the women's short program in Shanghai after both Mihara, who has only competed once internationally this season and is making her way back from injury, and Lee faltered in their routines.
Figure Skating
Japanese skater Chiba Mone leads the way after the women's short program at the 2024 ISU Four Continents Figure Skating Championships as both her teammate Mihara Mai and pre-event favourite Lee Hae-in from Republic of Korea fell during their routines on Thursday (1 February).
Chiba is at the top of the pack on 71.10 points, boosted by her strong technical elements.
The 18-year-old Sendai native, who won bronze at last year's Four Continents, landed her triple flip-triple toe loop combination cleanly to start her routine, followed by the double Axel. While her triple Lutz was judged to have been on an unclear edge, no-one else could top her score.
Republic of Korea skater Kim Chae-yeon sits second on 69.77 points as Chiba's closest challenger, while Ava Marie Ziegler of the U.S. – the NHK Trophy champion from earlier this season – is third on 68.25.
Mihara posted the highest program component score for artistry and choreography of all 26 competitors (32.54) but is down in fifth after struggling on her triple Lutz-triple toe combination.
The Lutz was landed a quarter rotation under-rotated before she fell on the under-rotated toe loop. She earned 65.18 points.
Mihara, who won the Four Continents title in 2022 and the Grand Prix Final last season, has battled a right ankle injury this season and has only competed internationally once, at the NHK Trophy.
Meanwhile, Lee finds herself down in 11th on 56.07 points after a disappointing short program. The defending champion failed to complete a legal combination, with her planned triple Lutz-triple toe going awry.
First, the Korean landed the Lutz a quarter under-rotated, before attempting the toe loop but failing to gain any lift, rotating on the ice for an invalid element.
She then fell on her triple flip, which was also marked down for an unclear edge and being under-rotated.
The free skate is set for 3:50pm local time (UTC/GMT +8 hours) on Friday.