Sotnikova braced to end Russian drought

Sixteen-year-old Adelina Sotnikova edged closer to ending Russia's seven-year wait to clinch the European women's figure skating title when she dominated the short programme on Friday. The world junior champion in 2011, Sotnikova scored 67.61 points to Capriccio Espagnol by Nikolai Rimski-Korsakov. "I don't have the words to express how I feel. I am so happy and satisfied with what I have done. I feel strong emotion," said the teenager. Irina Slutskaya, in 2006, was Russia's last European champion and the country's only major podium appearance since was Alena Leonova's silver medal at the 2012 world championships. Four-time European champion Carolina Kostner of Italy was second on 64.19 points having fallen during her routine skated to the theme from the Young Frankenstein movie. Fellow Italian Valentina Marchei was in third place on 58.22. Russia's Ekaterina Bobrova and Dmitri Soloviev clinched their first international title later Friday when they won the European ice dance crown. They edged compatriots Elena Ilinykh and Nikita Katsalapov by just 0.11 points with Italy's Anna Cappellini and Luca Lanotte winning bronze. Bobrova, 22, and Soloviev, 23, had never previously done better than second at the Europeans in their 13-year partnership, finishing runners-up in 2011 and 2012. From AFP