Kim grabs lead in race for Cup of China title

BEIJING, Nov. 6 (Yonhap) -- South Korean Kim Yu-na got off to a brisk start in her bid for her fifth straight Grand Prix series title by winning the short program at the Cup of China on Thursday.

The 18-year-old scored 63.64 points at Capital Gymnasium in Beijing, edging out
Miki Ando of Japan, who came in second by scoring 59.30, and Finnish up-and-comer
Laura Lepisto, who posted 58.60.
The competition comprised the first half of this season's third Grand Series
event, with the free skate scheduled for Saturday.
Kim won the Cup of China last year and is coming off her fourth straight Grand
Prix series title, which she captured by winning Skate America last month. The
top performers from the series are invited to the Grand Prix Final, scheduled for
next month in South Korea.
Kim, who won the Grand Prix Finals for the past two seasons, is an athletic star
who commands a fan base as wide as any top entertainer in South Korea. She was
the first from her country to win a medal at a Grand Prix event after capturing a
bronze at the 2006 Skate Canada.