EDMONTON, Canada () -- An American deemed a has-been just two months ago and a Japanese youngster a week short of his 15th birthday won the men's singles qualifying rounds on the opening day of the World Figure Skating Championships.


Rudy Galindo, 26, who was so overlooked that U.S. figure skating officials failed to include him in their media guide for the national championships that he went on to win, was judged the top skater of 17 competitors in Group A on Sunday. Takeshi Honda, the youngest ever Japanese national champion, was tops in Group B.


The top 10 skaters from last year's world championships automatically qualified for Wednesday's short program.