Kaori Sakamoto added another jump to her repertoire and came away with the lead after Friday’s short program at the NHK Trophy, the final event of the figure skating Grand Prix series.
The 2018 Four Continents champion from Japan opened her routine with a double axel and added a triple lutz and a triple flip-triple toeloop combination for 75.60 points.
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Rikako Fukase, left, and Eichu Cho of Japan perform during a rhythm dance of an ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating competition in Kadoma near Osaka, Japan, Friday, Nov. 27, 2020. (AP PhotoHiro Komae)
Young You of South Korea performs during a short program of an ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating competition in Kadoma near Osaka, Japan, Friday, Nov. 27, 2020. (AP PhotoHiro Komae)
Yuhana Yokoi of Japan performs during a short program of an ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating competition in Kadoma near Osaka, Japan, Friday, Nov. 27, 2020. (AP PhotoHiro Komae)
Kana Muramoto, left, and Daisuke Takahashi of Japan perform during a rhythm dance of an ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating competition in Kadoma near Osaka, Japan, Friday, Nov. 27, 2020. (AP PhotoHiro Komae)
Wakaba Higuchi, the 2018 world silver medalist, fell on her opening triple axel but landed all her remaining jumps to finish second with 69.71 points. Mako Yamashita was third with 67.56 points.
Rikako Fukase, left, and Eichu Cho of Japan perform during a rhythm dance of an ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating competition in Kadoma near Osaka, Japan, Friday, Nov. 27, 2020. (AP PhotoHiro Komae)
“It was the first time that I had the (triple) lutz and I was able to skate clean,” Sakamoto said. “It is very motivating to skate in front of an audience. In the free program, I hope to have more energy and to keep my position.”
The NHK Trophy normally draws skaters from around the world but was limited to mostly Japanese skaters because of travel restrictions related to the coronavirus pandemic.
Despite concerns about the virus, there was a near-capacity crowd for the opening day program. Japan has managed to keep the virus under control so far but is experiencing a surge in cases.
Young You of South Korea performs during a short program of an ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating competition in Kadoma near Osaka, Japan, Friday, Nov. 27, 2020. (AP PhotoHiro Komae)
Vancouver Olympic bronze medalist and 2010 world champion Daisuke Takahashi made his debut in ice dancing, partnering with Kana Muramoto to finish second in the rhythm dance.
Japanese champions Misato Komatsubara and Tim Koleto were first with 70.76 points, followed by Takahashi and Muramoto with 64.15.
“Not everything was the way we hoped and it was not 100%,” Takahashi said. “But the rhythm dance was good. I did not realize how difficult ice dance is so hats off to all the ice dancers.”
Yuhana Yokoi of Japan performs during a short program of an ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating competition in Kadoma near Osaka, Japan, Friday, Nov. 27, 2020. (AP PhotoHiro Komae)
Rikako Fukuse and Eichu Cho were third with 63.46 points.
Four Continents bronze medalist Yuma Kagiyama led after the men’s short program with 87.26 points, ahead of Kazuki Tomono with 83.27. Lucas Tsuyoshi Honda was third with 79.22 points.
Kagiyama, the world junior silver medalist, started with a quad salchow-triple toeloop combination followed by a quad toeloop but faltered on an axel later in his routine.
Kana Muramoto, left, and Daisuke Takahashi of Japan perform during a rhythm dance of an ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating competition in Kadoma near Osaka, Japan, Friday, Nov. 27, 2020. (AP PhotoHiro Komae)
“The first half of my short program was almost perfect,” Kagiyama said. “But there were some mistakes in the second half so I was a little disappointed with that but I’m looking forward to the free skate.”
Two-time Olympic champion Yuzuru Hanyu, who has asthma, is not taking part in the men’s program.
The Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final that was to be held as an Olympic test event on Dec. 10-13 in Beijing has been postponed. The Grand Prix events in Canada and France were canceled because of the pandemic.
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CHICAGO (AP) — Jared Goff and the Detroit Lions entered the season with their sights set on the Super Bowl. Finishing a frustrating year by beating their division winner was at least some consolation.
Goff led five scoring drives, Jake Bates kicked a 42-yard field goal as time expired and the Lions regrouped to beat the NFC North champion Chicago Bears 19-16 on Sunday after blowing a 16-point lead in the fourth quarter.
“It feels good to kind of get back to who we are and see it in live-speed reality,” Goff said.
What doesn't feel good? Missing the playoffs.
“It’s frustrating,” coach Dan Campbell said. "So that’s what fuels you. We don’t want to be doing that again next year. That’s not where we want to be. We have got to get in.”
The Bears (11-6) stumbled into the playoffs with back-to-back losses, though they secured the No. 2 seed in the NFC with Washington beating Philadelphia. Chicago will host Green Bay in a wild-card game next week and would have home-field advantage in the divisional round if it beats the Packers.
“We’re going to use this frustration,” said Caleb Williams, who set the franchise’s single-season passing record. “We’re going to get on a roll here this week, starting this week and that’s the focus.”
Williams threw two fourth-quarter touchdown passes as the Bears wiped out a 16-0 deficit.
The Lions (9-8) started the final drive at their 37 after Chicago punted on fourth-and-5 at the 31. Bears coach Ben Johnson considered going for the first down but decided against it, figuring he had three timeouts and would probably get the ball back.
That didn't happen, and Detroit ended a disappointing season on a winning note when Bates nailed a 42-yarder. A 26-yard pass from Goff to Amon-Ra St. Brown helped set up the field goal and Detroit came out on top after losing three in a row.
Goff shook off his worst game of the season by throwing for 331 yards with a touchdown and an interception. The four-time Pro Bowler completed 27 of 42 passes after setting season highs with two interceptions and three fumbles and matched one by getting sacked five times last week at Minnesota.
St. Brown had 139 yards on 11 receptions. Gibbs ran for 80 yards and had a touchdown catch. Avonte Maddox intercepted Williams in the end zone in the third quarter.
“I still believe the nucleus of this team is right,” Campbell said. “I really do. But we are going to need to make a few changes. Not just talking about that. It will be collectively. We’re going to have to work through some things to get the best version of ourselves.”
Williams threw for 212 yards, giving him 3,942 this season to surpass Erik Kramer’s franchise mark of 3,838 in 1995. Chicago remains the only team without a 4,000-yard passer.
Colston Loveland caught 10 passes for 91 yards and a touchdown. Kevin Byard had his league-leading seventh interception.
“They fought their tails off, but came up short,” Johnson said. “We’ve got to play better going forward, we’ve got to coach better going forward as well and we’re turning the page, though. We got the No. 2 seed, we’ve got a home game next week and we’ve got a new season on the horizon. Our guys should be reinvigorated by that. I know I certainly am.”
The Bears hadn’t made the playoffs since 2020. But they won the division in Johnson’s first season after finishing last a year ago.
Chicago trailed 16-0 in the opening minute of the fourth quarter when Williams connected with Jahdae Walker for a 25-yard touchdown and broke Kramer’s record. A 2-point conversion run by Kyle Monangai cut it to 16-8.
After the Lions punted, Chicago went 88 yards for a touchdown, with Williams finding Colston Loveland in the end zone from the 1. A lunging Cole Kmet then hauled in the 2-point conversion pass in a crowd, tying it at 16 and whipping the crowd into a frenzy.
The Lions then had the ball at the Chicago 35 when Goff attempted to zip a pass to St. Brown. The Bears’ Jaquan Brisker tipped the ball and Byard picked it off at the 5.
Lions: WR Tom Kennedy (rib) was hurt returning a punt in the third quarter.
Bears: The Bears held out LT Ozzy Trapilo (knee/quad) after he was limited in practice during the week. ... LB Ty Summers (foot) left after he was injured on the opening kickoff. ... C.J. Gardner-Johnson (concussion) left after he was hurt on the winning drive.
Lions: Start the offseason.
Bears: Host Green Bay in a wild-card game next weekend.
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Detroit Lions place kicker Jake Bates celebrates after kicking a field goal on the final play of an NFL football game against the Chicago Bears, Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)
Detroit Lions place kicker Jake Bates (39) kicks a field goal on the final play of an NFL football game against the Chicago Bears, Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)
Detroit Lions wide receiver Kalif Raymond (11) runs up field after catching a pass during the second half of an NFL football game against the Chicago Bears, Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff is sacked by Chicago Bears defensive tackle Gervon Dexter Sr. (99) during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)
Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams (18) runs from Detroit Lions linebacker al-Quadin Muhammad (96) during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
Detroit Lions running back David Montgomery (5) runs from Chicago Bears linebacker Tremaine Edmunds (49) during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
