Figure skating: Olympic champions Hanyu and Zagitova win in Moscow

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Japan's two-time Olympic champion Yuzuru Hanyu has overcome an injury to his right ankle to win the men's title, while Pyeongchang gold medalist Alina Zagitova won gold in the women's competition at the Rostelecom Cup on Saturday.

The 23-year-old double world champion Hanyu secured his second straight Grand Prix title this season, after winning in Helsinki, and stamped his ticket for the Grand Prix Final in Vancouver next month.

Hanyu went into the free program with a 20-point lead after setting a world record in Friday's short program, but his preparations were cut short when he fell during an official practice session.

Yuzuru Hanyu of Japan performs his men's free skating programme at the 2018/19 ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Rostelecom Cup, November 17, 2018. /VCG Photo

He made a number of errors during his free routine to "Art on Ice" by Edvin Marton, but the Sochi and Pyeongchang Olympic champion managed to claim the title with 278.42 points overall.

Last year an injury to the same ankle caused him to miss the Grand Prix Final.

"I twisted my foot this morning and it really hurts," Hanyu told Olympic Channel. "(It) wasn't as bad as last year. This injury made me change my program and sadly I couldn't perform the way I wanted. I could have done better."

Hanyu finished almost 30 points clear of Morisi Kvitelashvili whose almost flawless presentation of his "Mozart L'Opera Rock" free program was good enough to secure the first ever ISU Grand Prix podium for a Georgian.

Alina Zagitova of Russia competes in the Women's Free Skating, November 17, 2018. /VCG Photo

Meanwhile, Russia's 16-year-old Zagitova, who also claimed gold at Helsinki, earned 142.17 points for a solid presentation to "Carmen Suite" to win the women's section, finishing clear of second-placed compatriot Sofia Samodurova by almost 25 points.

But Zagitova refused to rest on her laurels. "I still have plenty of homework to do," she said. "Today I was focused on my jumps. Now I need to concentrate on the artistic impression to come to Carmen image as close as possible."

Source: AFP