Canada 2nd at figure skating's Cup of China after Lajoie, Lagha rhythm dance

Two-time European champions Charlene Guignard and Marco Fabbri were first in the rhythm dance with 84.84 points at the Cup of China on Friday in Chongqing.

Marjorie Lajoie of Boucherville, Que., and Zachary Lagha of Saint-Hubert, Que., were second with 81.53 points followed by Christina Carreira and Anthony Ponomarenko of the U.S. with 79.22.

Last year, Lajoie and Lagha led after the rhythm dance at the Chongqing Huaxi Culture and Sports Centre with a score of 82.02.

The Canadians were second after the rhythm dance in October at Skate Canada in Halifax, where Lagha fell to the ice, but they went on to capture a silver medal with 199.90 points.

At last year's Cup of China, Toronto's Piper Gilles and Paul Poirier of Unionville, Ont., overtook Lajoie and Lagha in the free dance and edged their teammates by 1.81 points for a gold medal.

Lajoie and Lagha experienced a breakthrough season two years ago with victories at the Budapest Trophy and Ondrej Nepela Memorial before placing second at nationals.

WATCH | Lajoie, Lagha scored 81.53 points for their rhythm dance in China:

Canadians Lajoie and Lagha sit in 2nd place after rhythm dance program at the Cup of China

American figure skater Amber Glenn faltered on her combination jump to finish second behind Japan's Mone Chiba in a very close women's short program

Skating to This Time by Janet Jackson, Glenn opened with a slightly under-rotated triple axel and stepped out of the landing of the triple flip-triple toeloop combination.

The U.S. champion recovered to deliver a clean triple loop and finished with 70.84 points, just 0.02 points behind Chiba.

"I am happy I was able to recover after a mistake and that is big progress for me," Glenn said. "I haven't been my best since