Hanyu smashes mystical 300-point mark

AFP, NAGANO (JAPAN): Japan’s high-flying Olympic champion Yuzuru Hanyu became the first skater to break the 300-point mark on Saturday as he soared to victory at the NHK Trophy in breathtaking style.
The 20-year-old obliterated the mystical barrier in Nagano, posting a combined world record total of 322.40 points after a jaw-dropping free programme which also smashed Canadian Patrick Chan’s previous high, triggering wild cheers from thousands of squealing female fans.
Hanyu’s free score of 216.07 was also the first ever to clear the 200-point mark and his astonishing aggregate score was on an entirely different level to Chan’s previous best of 295.27 set in Paris two years ago.
It is difficult to see how after an exquisite performance which could have redefined the sport. Hanyu, who covered his face with his hands in disbelief as his score was announced, majestically nailed all of his jumps, including four quads, in a high-risk programme which left his rivals way back.
He punched the air in joy at the end of his skate as the crowd erupted before skating over to a television camera holding his index finger aloft to
underline his status as figure skating’s crown prince.
Chinese teenager Jin Boyang posted a score of 170.79 to finish a distant runner-up with a total of 266.43, joining Hanyu in next month’s Grand Prix Final in Barcelona. Japan’s Takahito Mura took third with a total of 242.21.
Russian Maxim Kovtun had a free programme to forget, making several bad mistakes to slip from fourth after the short skate to finish 10th on 212.63 and miss out on a trip to Spain.
Meanwhile, Hanyu broke his own world best in the short programme.
Skating to Chopin’s “Ballad No. 1”, Hanyu finished with a flourish, striking a matador’s pose as the music ended and pumping his fists before being greeted with a hug from coach Brian Orser after putting a disappointing recent runner-up finish in Canada firmly behind him.
Japan’s Mao Asada suffered a setback in the ladies competition as she looked to continue her winning comeback after victory in China earlier this month.
The triple world champion fell on a triple axel attempt and finished in fourth after the short skate, behind compatriot Satoko Miyahara and Americans Courtney Hicks and Ashley Wagner.
The pint-sized Miyahara produced a flawless routine to lead on 69.53 points from Hicks with 65.60 and Wagner on 63.71.

Hanyu smashes mystical 300-point mark

AFP, NAGANO (JAPAN): Japans high-flying Olympic champion Yuzuru Hanyu became the first skater to break the 300-point mark on Saturday as he soared to victory at the NHK Trophy in breathtaking style. The 20-year-old obliterated the mystical barrier in Nagano, posting a combined world record total of 322.40 points after a jaw-dropping free programme which also smashed Canadian Patrick Chans previous high, triggering wild cheers from thousands of squealing female fans. Hanyus free score of 216.07 was also the first ever to clear the 200-point mark and his astonishing aggregate score was on an entirely different level to Chans previous best of 295.27 set in Paris two years ago. It is difficult to see how after an exquisite performance which could have redefined the sport. Hanyu, who covered his face with his hands in disbelief as his score was announced, majestically nailed all of his jumps, including four quads, in a high-risk programme which left his rivals way back. He punched the air in joy at the end of his skate as the crowd erupted before skating over to a television camera holding his index finger aloft to underline his status as figure skatings crown prince. Chinese teenager Jin Boyang posted a score of 170.79 to finish a distant runner-up with a total of 266.43, joining Hanyu in next months Grand Prix Final in Barcelona. Japans Takahito Mura took third with a total of 242.21. Russian Maxim Kovtun had a free programme to forget, making several bad mistakes to slip from fourth after the short skate to finish 10th on 212.63 and miss out on a trip to Spain. Meanwhile, Hanyu broke his own world best in the short programme. Skating to Chopins Ballad No. 1, Hanyu finished with a flourish, striking a matadors pose as the music ended and pumping his fists before being greeted with a hug from coach Brian Orser after putting a disappointing recent runner-up finish in Canada firmly behind him. Japans Mao Asada suffered a setback in the ladies competition as she looked to continue her winning comeback after victory in China earlier this month. The triple world champion fell on a triple axel attempt and finished in fourth after the short skate, behind compatriot Satoko Miyahara and Americans Courtney Hicks and Ashley Wagner. The pint-sized Miyahara produced a flawless routine to lead on 69.53 points from Hicks with 65.60 and Wagner on 63.71.