China's Zhang advances to women's singles free skate at figure skating worlds

PRAGUE, March 26 (Xinhua) -- China's Zhang Ruiyang scored 58.96 points in the women's short program at the 2026 Figure Skating World Championships on Wednesday, placing 18th among 33 skaters and advancing to the free skate.

Japan's Kaori Sakamoto, the silver medalist at the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics, leads the field with 79.31 points, followed by compatriot Mone Chiba with 78.45. American Amber Glenn is third on 72.65.

In the pairs short program, Germany's Minerva Fabienne Hase and Nikita Volodin topped the standings with 79.78 points. Georgia's Anastasiia Metelkina and Luka Berulava were close behind in second with 79.45, while Canada's Lia Pereira and Trennt Michaud were third on 75.52.

China's Zhang Jiaxuan and Huang Yihang finished 14th among 21 pairs with 62.69 points, also qualifying for the free skate.