Figure skating: Rika Kihira leads nationals after short program

Rika Kihira made a strong start in her campaign for a maiden national figure skating crown on Thursday, taking the lead after the women's short program.The 2018 runner-up scored 73.98 for a 3.87 point lead over four-time winner Satoko Miyahara on the opening day of the Japanese national championships at Yoyogi National Gymnasium.Reigning champion Kaori Sakamoto -- who upstaged Kihira and Miyahara last year -- finished the segment third on 69.95.The 17-year-old Kihira will start Saturday's free skate in first place despite stumbling on her opening jump, a triple axel, in the short program."I…READ FULL ARTICLE