THE JAPAN TIMES
 

 
TAIPEI – Shoma Uno finished fourth and Takahito Mura fifth at the Four Continents Championships on Sunday as Canada’s Patrick Chan won the event for the third time.

Uno, in second after a personal-high 92.99 points in the short program, was only able to add another 176.82 points, some 14 points off his best, for a total of 269.81. Mura scored 179.35 to finish with 268.43, while Keiji Tanaka was sixth with 222.70.

Chan, a three-time world champion, started the day in fifth place, but skated his career-best free program (203.99) for a total of 290.21. China’s Jin Boyang, who led after the short program, was second with 289.83, while compatriot Yan Han was third with 271.55.
“I didn’t panic,” Chan said. “I took my time and kept focused on the things that make me successful in practice and competition and today is a result of that.”

Uno was fifth here last year after finishing the short skate second like this time, and was positive with his display as a whole.
“My quad jumps were hit and miss until the end,” Uno said. “Apart from that, I’m more satisfied than the short program. It had both good and bad points, but it was better than last year.”

Mura couldn’t add to his title from two years ago and vowed to improve his scores.
“I finished everything well apart from the triple axel,” he said. “I’m not satisfied with this, and will strive for the high points that come with (skating at) the next level.”

Uno will be heading to Boston to compete in the World Championships starting at the end of March along with compatriot Yuzuru Hanyu.Chan added to the titles he won in 2009 and 2012, giving him a confidence boost heading to the March 28-April 3 world championships in Boston.
“I’ll take some time to recuperate and focus on exactly what I did today and repeating it again in Boston,” Chan said. “Fortunately, it’s in Boston which is a huge advantage for North American skaters.”