Sasha Cohen of the United States. (Xinhua photo)

Irina Slutskaya of Russia (Xinhua photo)

Shizuka Arakawa of Japan (Xinhua photo)

    TURIN, Feb. 21 (Xinhuanet) -- Current world silver medalist Sasha Cohen of the United States won the short program in the women's figure skating with 66.73 points, edging world champion Irina Slutskaya of Russia by 0.03 points at the Turin Olympic Games on Tuesday.

    The free skating competition on Thursday would be fierce as Slutskaya finished second with 66.70 points and Shizuka Arakawa of Japan third, 0.68 points behind Slutskaya.

    The 21-year-old Cohen was the last to skate among the 29 skaters. She produced a beautiful triple lutz-double to eloop, a triple flip, a flying camel spin, good double axel and layback spin. When she landed the spin, a big smile lit up her face.

    Cohen, who finished fourth in Salt Lake City in 2002, pick up 66.73 points (35.33 element score/31.40 program component score).

    Slutskaya, who won her second world championship in 2005, put out a confident program to Franz Liszt's "Totentanz, hitting a triple lutz-double loop, a triple flip, a double axel as well as nice spins.

    The 27-year-old was awarded 66.70 points (36.21/30.49), 3.52 points short of her personal best of 70.22.

    Arakawa, the 2004 world champion, really sparkled in her routine to Chopin's "Fantasie Impromptu", which featured a triple lutz-triple loop, a triple flip, a double axel as well as a graceful layback spin.

    The Japanese, who came here with renewed energy after switching coaches to Nikolai Morozov of Russia last year, earned 66.02 points(35.93/30.09).

    Arakawa's compatriot Fumie Suguri, who took the Japanese national title in December, came fourth with 61.75 points. Enditem