Japan’s Yuma Kagiyama claimed the men’s gold medal by a wide margin at the Grenoble figure skating Grand Prix on Saturday after Russian world champion Anna Shcherbakova survived a slip to win the women’s event.

The 18-year-old Kagiyama had dominated the short programme on Friday and, after the free routine, beat Russia’s Andrei Mozalev by over eight points overall, with his compatriot Shun Sato coming third.

Winner in the Turin event earlier in November, this was Kagayima’s second success at the top level and secures his place at the Grand Prix Final in December in Osaka.

“The Grand Prix Final was part of my goals for this season and since it takes place in Japan, I really wanted to take part there and I am glad I make it,” he told the ISU.

In the women’s event, the 17-year-old Shcherbakova, who is favourite to take the gold at the Winter Games in February, slipped off the takeoff of her opening Lutz of Saturday’s free skate.

But Shcherbakova recovered with a quadruple flip to post a total of 229.69 points.

“The mistake threw me off and I was very upset, but I did all my elements afterwards, which was very important,” she said.

Fellow Russian Alena Kostornaia was second, 7.84 points behind, while Japan’s Wakaba Higuchi climbed from sixth to take the bronze.

In the ice dancing, Gabriella Papadakis and Guillaume Cizeron also fluffed a move but held their overnight lead to clinch gold.

The French winners suffered a rare moment of horror during a complicated movement but somehow managed to right themselves coming out of the move.

Later Saturday, the pairs podium will also be decided.

The Grenoble competition follows Grand Prix events in Las Vegas, Vancouver, Turin and Tokyo.