Asada, Abbott make good start in Moscow

Japan's former two-time world champion Mao Asada stormed into the lead of the women's competition in the Cup of Russia, the sixth and the last stage of ISU Grand Prix series, here on Friday. The 21-year-old, who won silver at the Vancouver Olympics in 2010, scored a season's best of 64.29 points for her near-flawless presentation of her short programme set to Sheherazade by Nikolai Rimski-Korsakov. "I skated well today, laying a good groundwork for tomorrow's free skating," Asada said. "I think I was right when I decided to make a double axel instead of triple one after the morning practice." She was followed by Russia's Alena Leonova, who chose Sirens by Harry Gregson-Williams from the Pirates of the Caribbean soundtrack and racked up a new peronal best mark of 63.91. The local crowd's 15-year-old favourite Adelina Sotnikova, who finished second at the NHK Trophy earlier this month, was third after the first day's skating with 57.79 after making a couple of small mistakes in her Bolero by Maurice Ravel routine. In the men's competition, this year's Cup of China winner Jeremy Abbott of the United States grabbed the lead after earning a personal best of 83.54 for the short programme - a swing medley by various composers. Japan's Yuzuru Hanyu, fourth at the Cup of China, placed a serious bid for a place in the GP finals by finishing second after the short programme just 0.76 off Abbott. The Czech Republic's Mizhal Brezina, who has already qualified for the Quebec City finals, was third with 79.01. In the pairs, Germany's three-time world champions Aliona Savchenko and Robin Szolkowy made a bid for season's second gold with an excellent performance of Angels and Demons soundtrack routine for a 68.72 mark. "We're very pleased with our performance here," Szolkowy said. "Unlike our previous displays, today we made no mistakes. It makes me optimistic about our chances for the overall win." Russian pair Yuko Kavaguti and Alexander Smirnov, winners of the Cup of China and NHK Trophy this season, finished second at 3.55 with their Joe Satriani's All Alone short programme. Italian duo Stefania Berton and Ondrej Hotarek, who were fourth at the NHK Trophy, were left eyeing a place on the podium here after clinching third place after the short programme, on 60.13. After a short ice dance - a hot latina medley - US reigning world champions Meryl Davis and Charlie White, winners at Skate America, confirmed their favourites' status leading the section after the opening day with 69.94. Canadian duo Kaitlyn Weaver and Andrew Poje, two-time silver medal winners from the GP circuit this season, were second at 5.49, while local favourites Ekaterina Bobrova and Dmitri Soloviev sit third on 61.69 points.