Japanese star Kihira clinches Grand Prix final win as Zagitova settles for 2nd

Having topped the short program ahead of Zagitova with a world-record score, 16-year-old Kihira also got the better of the Russian in Saturday’s free program.

READ MORE: Japanese figure skating sensation breaks Zagitova world record in GP final

Kihira scored 150.61 points to Zagitova's 148.60, with Tuktamysheva on 144.67.

The result earned Kihira a total of 233.12 points for the two programs, with clear daylight ahead of Zagitova on 226.53 and Tuktamysheva further back on 215.32 in Vancouver.

Rika Kihira © AFP / Don MacKinnon

It could be considered a disappointing end to what has largely been a stellar 2018 for Zagitova, 16, who won Olympic gold in South Korea back in February.

For Kihira it marks a stunning debut season at senior level after earlier Grand Prix victories in Japan and France.  

The Junior Ladies final saw a Russian clean sweep of the podium as Alena Kostornaia claimed first, ahead of Alexandra Trusova in second and Alena Kanysheva in third. 

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