European champions Isabelle Delobel and Olivier Schoenfelder of France have the lead in the ice dancing competition at the NHK Trophy figure skating event in Sendai, Japan.
Delobel and Schoenfelder completed the compulsory Argentine Tango with 38.96 points. Canada's Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir are in second place, more than four points back (34.67). Russia's Jana Kohklova and Sergei Novitski are third (34.23).
After Thursday's pairs short program, European champs Aliona Savchenko and Robin Szolkowy of Germany lead with 70.32 points. Ukraine's Tatiana Volosozhar and Stanislav Morozov are second, more than 10 points back (60.14). Canada's Jessica Dube and Bryce Davison are third (58.16).
The competition continues Friday with the pairs free skate, the ice dance original dance and the ladies' short program. The event ends Saturday.
The NHK Trophy is the sixth of the International Skating Union's Grand Prix competitions and is the last chance skaters have to qualify for next month's Grand Prix final in Turin, Italy. The top six athletes or couples in each discipline will make the finals.
Some information for this report provided by AFP
