Figure skating: Japan’s Hana Yoshida wins 1st career Grand Prix title

CHONGQING, China (Kyodo) — Japan’s Hana Yoshida won her first figure skating Grand Prix title Saturday when she came from behind to win the Cup of China.

Yoshida, who went into her free skate in third place, finished with 203.97 points, 0.75 ahead of compatriot Rinka Watanabe, when short program winner Loena Hendrickx of Belgium struggled with two of her combination jumps and slumped to third.

“Honestly, winning the championship had not been one of my goals (here),” Yoshida said. “I’m really surprised to have won. I still have a lot of issues to work out. I want to be able to produce even higher scores.”

Skating as a senior for the first time this season, the 18-year-old Yoshida was fourth in her Grand Prix debut at the series-opening Skate America.