NAGOYA, Japan (AP) — Japan’s Mone Chiba emerged as the surprise leader in the women's short program at the figure skating Grand Prix Final after several favorites stumbled on Friday.
Three-time world champion Kaori Sakamoto and defending Grand Prix Final champion Amber Glenn made costly errors on their opening jumps and finished fifth and sixth respectively.
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Ami Nakai, of Japan, competes in the women's short program segment at the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final in Nagoya, central Japan, Friday, Dec. 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Hiro Komae)
Alysa Liu, of the United States, competes in the women's short program segment at the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final in Nagoya, central Japan, Friday, Dec. 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Hiro Komae)
Amber Glenn, of the United States, competes in the women's short program segment at the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final in Nagoya, central Japan, Friday, Dec. 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Hiro Komae)
Kaori Sakamoto, of Japan, competes in the women's short program segment at the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final in Nagoya, central Japan, Friday, Dec. 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Hiro Komae)
Mone Chiba, of Japan, competes in the women's short program segment at the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final in Nagoya, central Japan, Friday, Dec. 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Hiro Komae)
Skating last and realizing she had a golden opportunity to take the lead, Chiba appeared nervous at the start of her routine but settled down to land a triple flip-triple toe loop combination, a double axel and a triple lutz for 77.27 points.
World champion Alysa Liu of the United States was second with 75.79 followed by Ami Nakai of Japan on 73.91.
“I was very nervous at the start,” Chiba said. “But I was able to land all three jumps and do my spins and steps so I feel good about my skate.”
Liu landed a triple flip, a double axel and a triple lutz-triple loop combination and said she was pleased with her performance.
“I had a goal going into the short program,” Liu said, "to do a better triple loop than my other companions and to breathe throughout.”
Sakamoto could manage only a double lutz on her opening jump and finished in fifth place with 69.40 points.
“More than feeling the pressure, I feel like I defeated myself,” said an emotional Sakamoto, who will retire after this season. “I will go into the free program tomorrow with nothing to lose.”
Defending champion Glenn had a single axel on her opening jump instead of a triple and was sixth with 66.85 points. Glenn completed the triple cleanly in practice but couldn’t pull it off in competition.
Friday’s result further underscored that there was no clear favorite heading toward the Milan Cortina Olympics in February.
Further complicating prospects was the International Skating Union allowing Russian skaters to compete in Milan Cortina as neutrals but only in the men's and women's competitions.
They include 18-year-old Adeliia Petrosian and Petr Gumennik.
Petrosian has won two straight national titles and is unbeaten over the past two seasons, winning eight straight domestic events. Petrosian has been landing triple axels and quads in competition while no other woman has done so consistently this year.
In the pairs, world champions Riku Miura and Ryuichi Kihara of Japan held on to their slim lead from the short program to win the gold medal despite a couple of errors in the free skate.
The hometown favorites finished second in the free skate but first overall with 225.21 points.
“We tried not to think too much about winning the title,” Kihara said. “Our coach told us just try to stay true to our program.”
Italians Sara Conti and Niccolo Macii were second with 223.28 followed by Germany's Minerva Fabienne Hase and Nikita Volodin on 221.25 points. They moved to third from fifth place.
The competition ends with the free skate for men and women on Saturday.
Ami Nakai, of Japan, competes in the women's short program segment at the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final in Nagoya, central Japan, Friday, Dec. 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Hiro Komae)
Alysa Liu, of the United States, competes in the women's short program segment at the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final in Nagoya, central Japan, Friday, Dec. 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Hiro Komae)
Amber Glenn, of the United States, competes in the women's short program segment at the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final in Nagoya, central Japan, Friday, Dec. 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Hiro Komae)
Kaori Sakamoto, of Japan, competes in the women's short program segment at the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final in Nagoya, central Japan, Friday, Dec. 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Hiro Komae)
Mone Chiba, of Japan, competes in the women's short program segment at the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final in Nagoya, central Japan, Friday, Dec. 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Hiro Komae)
NEW DELHI (AP) — Russian President Vladimir Putin held talks with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday at an annual summit and agreed to diversify mutual economic ties, as the United States presses India to revise its decades-old partnership with Russia.
The 23rd Russia-India Summit comes at a pivotal moment as the U.S. pushes for a Ukraine peace deal while seeking global cooperation. It will test New Delhi’s efforts to balance relations with Moscow and Washington as the nearly four-year war in Ukraine grinds on.
Putin was received by Modi at an airport in New Delhi on Thursday. The Indian leader gave Putin a bear hug and a tight handshake with the gusto of an old friend.
After the talks, Putin and Modi announced that India and Russia have finalized an economic cooperation program until 2030, which will help diversify mutual businesses to boost annual trade to $100 billion by 2030. They also emphasized strong energy ties.
Bilateral trade between the two countries stood at $68.7 billion in the last fiscal year ended March. The trade is heavily skewed in favor of Russia with deep deficits for India, which it is looking to bridge by pushing exports.
“To achieve this significant goal, a program for the development of Russian-Indian economic cooperation until 2030 has been agreed upon,” Putin said. He said work is underway on an agreement for India to establish a free trade zone with the Eurasian Economic Union, a Moscow-dominated economic grouping of several ex-Soviet nations, adding that it could help increase trade.
“Russia is a reliable supplier of energy resources and everything necessary for the development of India’s energy sector,” Putin said. “We are ready to continue ensuring the uninterrupted supply of fuel for the rapidly growing Indian economy.”
Before the summit talks, the Russian leader said the two countries “have a very trusting relationship when it comes to military-technical cooperation.”
Modi said after the talks that the two countries will work toward early conclusion of a free trade agreement with the Eurasian Economic Union. He also announced that India will soon start issuing free electronic visas for Russian tourists and groups visiting the country.
The Indian leader said energy security has long anchored India-Russia ties, with civil nuclear cooperation spanning decades. He added that such cooperation will continue, alongside collaboration in clean energy, shipbuilding, fertilizers and labor mobility.
While India has historically maintained deep ties with Russia, critics say Putin’s visit could strain relations with the European Union and the United States and might jeopardize negotiations for major trade agreements with both that are seen as critical for India’s exports.
U.S. President Donald Trump raised tariffs on Indian goods to 50% in August, citing New Delhi's discounted Russian oil. India has been the second biggest importer of Russian crude after China.
The U.S. says purchases of Russian oil help finance Moscow’s war machine. In October, the U.S. sanctioned two of Moscow’s biggest oil producers to force countries like India to cut down on imports. Indian officials have said New Delhi has always abided by international sanctions and would do so in the case of Russia oil purchases.
India’s foreign secretary Vikram Misri told reporters that the recent sanctions imposed on Russian oil were discussed.
Without specifying India’s position on its purchases, Misri said the government’s priority was to secure the energy needs of its 1.4 billion people.
Misri said India’s private and state-run oil companies make decisions based on evolving market dynamics and commercial issues they confront while sourcing supplies.
"We are continuing our cooperation between the two countries,” he said.
India and the U.S. set a target for the first tranche of a trade deal by the fall, but the deal hasn’t come through yet amid strains in relations, mainly because of New Delhi's unabated imports of Russian crude.
India is also in the final stages of talks on a trade agreement with the EU, which sees Russia's war in Ukraine as a major threat.
Given the timing and geopolitical context, Putin’s India visit "underscores New Delhi’s strategic tightrope walk between the West and the rest, chiefly Russia,” said Praveen Donthi, a senior analyst with the International Crisis Group.
Donthi said India’s tilt toward Russia dates back to the Cold War and persists despite its official nonaligned position. “The significant change now is its desire to be a strategic partner with the U.S. at the same time, which will be a diplomatic challenge,” he added.
Indian officials earlier said that Modi in the meeting with Putin would push for faster delivery of two further Russian S-400 surface-to-air missile systems. It has already received three under a 2018 deal worth about $5.4 billion. The delay has been tied to supply chain disruptions linked to the war in Ukraine.
Misri said the defense ministers of India and Russia met Thursday.
In a joint statement following the summit, the two sides said they have agreed to encourage joint manufacturing in India of spare parts and components for maintenance of Russian-origin arms and defense equipment. This would be done through transfer of technology and setting up of joint ventures.
India and Russia signed a pact in February to improve military cooperation, exercises, port calls, disaster relief assistance and logistics support. Moscow’s State Duma ratified the same ahead of Putin’s India visit.
India is also expecting to upgrade its Russian-made Su-30MKI fighter jets and accelerate deliveries of critical military hardware.
India is keen to increase exports of pharmaceuticals, agriculture and textiles to Russia and is seeking the removal of non-tariff barriers. New Delhi is also seeking long-term supplies of fertilizers from Moscow.
Another key area where the two countries hope to finalize an agreement is the safety and regulation of skilled Indian migrant workers to Russia.
Putin last visited India in 2021. Modi was in Moscow last year, and the two leaders briefly met in September in China during a Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit.
Hussain reported from Srinagar, India.
Russian President Vladimir Putin, left, and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi make a press statement after their talks at the Hyderabad House in New Delhi, India, Friday, Dec. 5, 2025. (Alexander Kazakov, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP)
Russian President Vladimir Putin receives a guard of honor during a ceremonial reception at the Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi, India, Friday, Dec. 5, 2025. (AP Photo)
Russian President Vladimir Putin, left, and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi pose for a photo prior to their talks in New Delhi, India, Friday, Dec. 5, 2025. (Mikhail Tereshchenko, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP)
Russian President Vladimir Putin, center, walks along with Indian President Droupadi Murmu, left, and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi during a ceremonial reception at the Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi, India, Friday, Dec. 5, 2025. (AP Photo)
Russian President Vladimir Putin, left, and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi pose for a photo prior to their talks in New Delhi, India, Friday, Dec. 5, 2025. (Mikhail Tereshchenko, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP)
Russian President Vladimir Putin, center, shakes hands with Indian President Droupadi Murmu as Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, right, looks on during a ceremonial reception at the Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi, India, Friday, Dec. 5, 2025. (AP Photo)
Russian President Vladimir Putin, center, poses for a photograph with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, right, and Indian President Droupadi Murmu during a ceremonial reception at the Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi, India, Friday, Dec. 5, 2025. (AP Photo)
Russian President Vladimir Putin gestures during an interview with journalists and executives of Aaj Tak and India Today TV channels at the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia, Wednesday, Dec. 3, 2025. (Vyacheslav Prokofyev/Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP)
Russian President Vladimir Putin, right, speaks during an interview with journalists and executives of Aaj Tak and India Today TV channels at the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia, Wednesday, Dec. 3, 2025. (Vyacheslav Prokofyev/Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP)
Russian President Vladimir Putin, left, and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi sit inside a limousine as they arrive at the Indian Prime Minister office in New Delhi, India, on Thursday, Dec. 4, 2025. (Alexander Kazakov, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP)
