Mone Chiba leads China Cup short program despite ankle worries

Mone Chiba has taken an early lead at the Grand Prix China Cup. The Japanese skater, who won silver at last season's World Championships, scored 76.08 points in the women's short program in Shenzhen on Friday.

It wasn't a perfect skate. Her opening triple flip–triple toe loop combination landed cleanly, but the double axel that followed was shaky.

The reason is easy to understand. Chiba sprained her right ankle in July, and this was only her second competition of the season. "I had fewer events before the Grand Prix than usual, so I felt more anxious. It showed in my jumps," she said.

She recovered in the second half, though. A solid triple Lutz settled things, and then came her real strength: skating to the "007" music.

The free skate is on Saturday, November 7. Chiba will be chasing her third Grand Prix win.