Kaori Sakamoto Leads Women's Short Program at Skate Canada

At Skate Canada International, three-time world champion Kaori Sakamoto of Japan won the women's short program with a score of 74.97, leading ahead of American Alysa Liu, who made a strong comeback with 67.68 points, and Swiss Kimmy Repond at 66.94. Sakamoto, the defending champion, aims to repeat her success, while Liu showcases her return to competitive skating after a two-year hiatus. In the pairs short program, Canadian duo Deanna Stellato-Dudek and Maxime Deschamps scored 73.23, also leading their competition, with Germany's Annika Hocke and Robert Kunkel in second place. The event continues with several disciplines scheduled for Saturday, including the rhythm dance and men's short program. Sakamoto and Liu's performances highlight a competitive field as they vie for medals in the Grand Prix series.