Nathan Chen tops men's short program at ISU Figure Skating Worlds

SAITAMA, Japan, March 21 (Xinhua) -- American Nathan Chen led the men's short program at the 2019 ISU Figure Skating World Championships here on Thursday, while home favorite Yuzuru Hanyu ranked third. China's Jin Boyang settled for ninth.

Chen, defending champion at the Worlds, delivered a clean short program, landing a triple Axel, quad flip, and quad toeloop triple toeloop. The All-American champion earned 107.40 points. His compatriot, Jason Brown, came in second with 96.81.

Hanyu, a double Olympic champion, just came back from a foot injury. Dancing to the music of Otonal by Raul di Blasio, Hanyu popped his quad salchow, but perfectly landed a triple Axel, quad toeloop triple toeloop, and level four spins and sequence. He scored 94.87 to take the third.

The two-time world champion expressed his disappointment: "I'm just really feeling a little nervous for my skating. I'm trying to get more confidence for my long program. I feel really frustrated for this performance.

"Just my mistakes, I need to focus on this competition and this feeling is clearly a special moment for only this competition."

China's Jin, two-time world bronze medallist, slipped in his quad lutz and only scored 84.26.

"I was too confident," said Jin. "I had landed this quad very well for many times since the Four Continents. So I didn't use too much strength when I was landing. It's my fault."

Looking ahead the free skate on Saturday, Jin said: "It will be my last program this season and I hope I can give the season a good ending."