Japan's Mone Chiba leads after the short program in China

Well, Mia Hamada, the coach of the winner from last week, can she boast the winner again this event in the Cup of China as Mone Chiba, the world silver medallist, prepares to compete. She chose the Bond music herself, a real contrast to the classical elegance we more readily associate with the skater. How will she fare as she returns from an injury in the summer for Mone Chiba? Great flow through the triple flip and triple toe combination. That was like a little homage to Kaori Sakamoto with the entry into the double axel but doesn't manage a solid landing, but safely through the triple lutz. The greatest depth of edge of all the skaters through the step sequence. I think it is relief in the face of Japan's Mone Chiba, nice to see her looking more relaxed now. Throughout the warm up and her introduction to the ice, she understandably looked stressed. Not knowing quite her physical conditioning based on the sprained ankle that she suffered through the summer, this I think will be relief. A little mistake on the double axle, but what Mone Chiba does have are skating skills that are incomparably stronger to the rest of the field. Such flow, such glide, and such good use of knee and ankle. I'm starting to speak now. As Mia Hamada analyzes the performance, here is the slight mistake, no touchdown of the free foot, but the double three turn exit forces the judges to reduce the grade of execution. But if she was to pick a jump to have a mistake on, it would be the double axel because of lesser value than the likes of that the triple lutz. So of the three component scores, I'd say that Mone Chiba's skating skills comfortably above the others. I think on this occasion from a presentation perspective, Anastasia Gubanova would take it today she was, I feel, more committed to her tango than this Bond Short Programme concept for Moni Chiba, but I think that for Moni the concept of the Short Programme is very much about pushing herself to explore different avenues creatively and artistically. I'm not going to ask that again. Well, something's entertaining and amusing, Coach Omiya Hamada. Will it be enough? One slight mistake? It is just that, 76.08. Thank you. A happy Moni Chiba, perhaps slightly relieved to see that she, by a point, leads the rest of the field.