Favourites falter as Liu leads the field

Two-time US champion Alysa Liu was the shock leader after stumbles by a trio of favourites in Wednesday’s women’s short programme at the World Figure Skating Championships in Boston.

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The 19-year-old American led 24 qualifiers for Friday’s women’s free dance final by winning the short programme with 74.58 points followed by Japan’s Mone Chiba on 73.44 and US teen Isabeau Levito on 73.35.

“I don’t treat my goals are still the same. I want to put out a really good performance for my free skate.

The ideal one — that would be a dream.”

Three-time defending champion Kaori Sakamoto of Japan, trying to become the first woman in 65 years to capture four consecutive world crowns, was a disappointing fifth on 71.87.

American Amber Glenn, runner in all five of her starts this season, fell and stood ninth on 67.65.

South Korean teen Kim Chae Yeon, runnerin four Comments and Asian Winter Games champion, was 11lit on 55.67.

Even Liu struggled to explain how she came out on top in the short programme.