Figure skating-Japan's Sakamoto dazzles in free skate to defend world title

Figure Skating - World Figure Skating Championships - Saitama Super Arena, Saitama, Japan - March 24, 2023 Japan's Kaori Sakamoto celebrates on the podium after winning the women free skating REUTERS/Issei Kato

SAITAMA, Japan (Reuters) - Japan's Kaori Sakamoto claimed back-to-back world titles with a mesmerising free skate for the women's individual gold medal on Friday as Madison Chock and Evan Bates dazzled in the rhythm dance segment at the figure skating world championships.

Sakamoto was in tears in the kiss-and-cry recalling memories of dropping to fifth from second at the same venue in 2019, but it was only joy and relief for the 22-year-old as her overall score of 224.61 flashed on the Saitama Super Arena screen.