BEIJING, Dec. 11 (Xinhua) -- Japan's reigning world champion Shoma Uno won his first title at ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final in Torino, Italy on Saturday, while Mai Mihara claimed the women's title.
Uno delivered a flawless program, reeling off a quad loop, flip, salchow, two quad toes as well as two triple axels. The two-time Olympic medalist set a personal best of 204.47 points in the free skating and racked up 304.46 points overall.
Sota Yamamoto took silver with 274.35 and ISU World Junior Champion Ilia Malinin of United States rose from fifth to earn bronze with 271.94. The American rising star, the only skater to successfully execute a quad axel in competition, included his trademark jump in free skate that put him on the podium after placing fifth in the short program.
"I didn't particularly feel pressure just because I won the World Championship, but at this competition, especially during the free program, all the other skaters did so amazing that instead it motivated me to enjoy and do my best for my competition," Uno said. "In terms of the combination I didn't do the triple axel-triple flip and the quad toe-triple toe today so the jumps I can improve for the upcoming competitions."
In the women's free skate, Mihara, two-time ISU Four Continents champion scored 133.59 points and racked up 208.17 points overall to win on what was her debut at the ISU Grand Prix Final. Isabeau Levito of United States rose from fifth to capture the silver medal and Loena Hendrickx of Belgium picked up the bronze, while reigning ISU world champion Kaori Sakamoto of Japan faltered on several jumps and dropped to fifth.
"It's surprising for me, it's unbelievable and I'm so happy to be here and I'm so grateful to the audience and my coach and my family and all fans," Mihara said.
Also on Saturday, Piper Gilles/Paul Poirier of Canada won the ice dance gold with 215.64. Madison Chock/Evan Bates of United States collected silver ahead of Italy's Charlene Guignard/Marco Fabbri.
Japan was the biggest winner at the GP Final as the pairs title was claimed by Japanese pair Riku Miura/Ryuichi Kihara on Friday.
The Exhibition Gala will be held on Sunday. ■
