Veteran Soviet Skater Wins Opening Event

Aleksandr Fadeev held off a threatening North American challenge as he came from behind to win the men’s compulsory figures at the World Figure Skating Championships today.

The veteran Soviet skater, who won the world title in 1985, led an Eastern European sweep of the first three placings as he recovered from a shaky start to clinch victory in his speciality event ahead of compatriot Viktor Petrenko and Poland’s Grzegorz Filipowski.

Right on their heels were U.S. national champion Chris Bowman of Van Nuys and Canada’s Kurt Browning, fourth and fifth, respectively.

“This is a perfect position from which to launch my challenge,” Bowman said after his best-ever finish in the compulsories--which count for one-fifth of the total mark--at a world or Olympic event.

‘Great Launching Pad’

“I was never going to set the world on fire in the compulsories, but this is a great launching pad,” said Bowman, a free-skating expert known for his showmanship. He is considered a successor to America’s former world and Olympic champion, Brian Boitano.

Bowman’s teammate, Daniel Doran, came in sixth.

“I didn’t know what to expect coming into the championships,” Doran said. “Those were the best figures I’ve ever done.”

Opening day events were to continue later with the pairs original program, in which 17-year-old Kristi Yamaguchi of the United States was launching her bid for honors in two events. Yamaguchi also is competing in the women’s competition starting Thursday.

Bowman placed seventh last year in the compulsories at the world championships in Budapest.