Figure skating-Russians assured gold ahead of final team event

BEIJING : Russian figure skaters were locked into a gold medal in the Beijing Games' team event on Monday with a wide enough lead over second-placed Team USA and just gold-medal favourite Kamila Valieva left to perform the free skate.

Even if Valieva, 15, finishes last in the event, the Russian Olympic Committee (ROC) will still retain first place in the team event.

The team event debuted in Sochi in 2014, when Russia took gold. Points are awarded based on finishing positions in the four traditional categories and go towards an overall team total. Ten points are awarded for the top finisher and six points to the last.

(Editing by Jacqueline Wong; Editing by Himani Sarkar)