Figure skating-Japan's Uno dazzles at worlds, Miura and Kihara win gold

SAITAMA, Japan : Japan's Shoma Uno took a big step towards defending his title after topping the men's short programme at the figure skating world championships while compatriots Riku Miura and Ryuichi Kihara won their country's first pairs gold on Thursday.

Uno injured his ankle after falling on a quadruple Salchow during Wednesday's practice but showed no signs of discomfort in his routine set to "Gravity" by John Mayer and came away with a season's best score of 104.63 ahead of Saturday's free skate.

The Beijing Olympics bronze medallist was ahead of American 18-year-old Ilia Malinin who also crossed the 100-point barrier with 100.38 while South Korea's Cha Jun-hwan was behind the duo after a solid 99.64.

Earlier, home favourites Miura and Kihara - who topped the short programme with a career-best 80.72 - earned Japan a maiden pairs world title with an overall score of 222.16 after their free skate.

They dethroned Americans Alexa Knierim and Brandon Frazier who took the silver with 217.48 while European champions Sara Conti and Niccolo Macii secured the bronze with 208.08 for Italy's first pairs medal at the worlds.

Miura was in tears after their performance to "Atlas: Two"/ "Shared Tenderness" as she fell while executing a throw triple loop but last year's silver medallists had done enough to bag the gold and delight the home fans at the Saitama Super Arena.

"Our practice paid off in the short programme and though I still have regrets in the free skate I'm happy," Miura said.

"The last few weeks we tried to maintain our composure and work on what we need to work on."

The Toronto-based duo have enjoyed a stellar season, winning all three Grand Prix events including the Final in Turin as well last month's Four Continents