Shimada Mao takes narrow lead after women's short program at 2023 World Junior Figure Skating Championships

The "New Mao", Shimada Mao, is in pole position to clinch the junior women's crown at the 2023 ISU World Junior Figure Skating Championships after the short program – but only just.

Japan's Shimada, named after Vancouver 2010 Olympic silver medallist Asada Mao, edged out the Republic of Korea skater Shin Ji-a by fewer than six-tenths of a point in Calgary, Canada, after both skaters dazzled in the short on Wednesday (1 March).

Both performed a double Axel, triple loop, and triple Lutz-triple toe loop combination in their routines, with Shimada – who also beat Shin at the Junior Grand Prix Final in December – ahead 71.78 to 71.19.

Shimada's Japanese teammate Nakai Ami was third on 67.28, with Shin's fellow South Korean Kim Yu-jae fourth.

Both Shimada and Nakai have the triple Axel in their repertoires, although they were restricted from performing the jump in the short program. Shimada also flashed a quadruple toe loop in her free skate at the Junior Grand Prix Final, which she could repeat in Friday's free skate. Those higher-scoring elements could make the difference, with Shin not possessing either.

Earlier, American pair Sophia Baram and Daniel Tioumentsev took the pairs short program on 66.95 points, a new personal best score.

France's Oxana Vouillamoz and Flavien Giniaux were second on 60.58, also a personal best, while Junior Grand Prix Final winners Anastasia Golubeva and Hektor Giotopoulos Moore found themselves behind the leaders in third.

The Australians received no score on their backward inside death spiral after Giotopoulos Moore slipped, pulling out of the element for safety. However, they still received a total of 59.18 for their short program.

• All results and scores from the World Juniors 2023