Chan, Sotnikova currently lead figure skating's World Team Trophy

Despite falling on his opening quad, Patrick Chan still holds a commanding lead in the World Team Trophy.

/AP

TOKYO (AP) -- Three-time world champion Patrick Chan of Canada and Adelina Sotnikova of Russia led after the short programs on the opening day of figure skating's World Team Trophy.

Chan fell on his opening quad Thursday and was shaky on the landing of his triple axel. But he finished with 86.67 points for a commanding lead over Japan's Daisuke Takahashi, who was second with 80.87. Konstantin Menshov of Russia was third with 80.60.

"I really accomplished my goal at the world championships and this is more icing on the cake," Chan said. "This is a team event and I was very happy to help the team. I think we have a pretty good chance of winning here."

Japan led the standings with 47 points after the first day thanks to strong performances from Takahashi and Akiko Suzuki, who was second in the women's short program. The United States also had 47 points but was second because of Japan's two second-place finishes. Russia was third with 41 points while Canada was in fourth with 34.

Sotnikova led the women's short with 67.13 points, followed by Suzuki on 66.56 and Gracie Gold of the U.S. at 60.98. Japan's Mao Asada finished fifth after falling on her opening triple axel.

"I couldn't do the triple cleanly in practice and that carried over to the competition," Asada said. "Japan is first thanks to Akiko's good performance. I'll try to do better in the free skate with Akiko."

Madison Chock and Evan Bates of the U.S. led the ice dance after their short program with 66.54. They were followed by Canadians Kaitlyn Weaver and Andrew Poje at 62.42 and Russians Ksenia Monko and Kirill Khaliavin at 59.47.

Competition resumes Friday with the pairs short program, the ice dance free program and the men's free skate.

The World Team Trophy features skaters from the six countries that scored the highest combined points at major senior and junior competitions during the 2012-13 season. This is a team event for the first time and differs slightly from the World Team Trophy format. It will be part of next year's Sochi Winter Olympics.