Kostner Outshines Olympic Champ Zagitova To Lead Worlds

Faizan Hashmi Published March 22, 2018 | 12:35 AM

Milan, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 22nd Mar, 2018 ) :Italian veteran Carolina Kostner outshone newly-crowned Olympic champion Alina Zagitova to grab the lead after the women's short programme at the world figure skating championships in Milan on Wednesday.

Zagitova, 15, bidding to top a golden debut to her first senior season in which she has won every competition, including gold in Pyeongchang four weeks ago, trails the 31-year-old Italian by a slim 1.24 points.

Kostner -- competing in her 14th world championships -- skated faultlessly to Celine Dion's 'Ne me quitte pas', hitting all her elements to score a new personal best 80.27 points to the delight of the home crowd.

Zagitova produced an elegant and solid performance to 'Black Swan' but looked shocked as she saw her score of 79.

51 points appear -- well below the world record 82.92 she achieved in South Korea.

"There was no pressure, I just continued to work calmly after the Olympics," said Kostner, who finished fifth in Pyeongchang. Kostner has six world medals -- including the gold in 2012 -- going back to her first bronze in 2005.

Japan's Satoko Miyahara, a former world silver medallist, is sitting third with 74.36 going into Friday's free skate. Two-time reigning champion Evgenia Medvedeva is not defending her title after her silver behind Zagitova in South Korea as the Russian nurses a recurring foot injury.

Olympic bronze medallist Kaetlyn Osmond of Canada is fourth. The competition continues later Wednesday with the pairs short programme.