Olympics: World champ pair, Sakamoto give Japan figure skaters solid start

MILAN - World champion pair Riku Miura and Ryuichi Kihara topped their short program, as did former women's singles world title holder Kaori Sakamoto, provisionally lifting Japan to second Friday in the qualifying round of the Milan Cortina Winter Olympic figure skating team competition.

Japan, which won silver in Beijing four years ago, racked up 23 points to sit two points behind leader and defending champion the United States at Milano Ice Skating Arena, with host Italy sitting third on 22 points.