Japanese figure skater Watanabe Rinka has captured the gold in women's figure skating at the Skate Canada International competition in her senior Grand Prix debut.

Watanabe scored 197.59 in total. She soared from sixth place in the short. She won134.32 points in the free skate, with a near-flawless performance after successfully hitting a triple axel jump at the outset.

American Starr Andrews won silver, while You Young of South Korea won bronze.

Kihira Rika, who is struggling to comeback from a stress fracture in her right ankle, finished fifth with 184.33. Yokoi Yuhana settled for eighth with 178.73.