Defending champion Hannah Kearney of the United States dominated women's moguls qualification at Sochi winter Olympics and led the first ten riders into the finals on Thursday, a day before the official Opening Ceremony.

Kearney, who won the gold in Vancouver four years ago, approved that she is the heavy favourite to become the first ever freestyle athlete to defend a gold medal in Sochi. She made a perfect run, leading the 30 riders with a total of 23.05 points.

Canadian sisters Chloe and Justine Dufour-Lapointe, who were awarded 22.64 and 22.28 points, ranked second and third.

Since the Vancouver Olympic Winter Games, Kearney has been on the podium 39 times, winning an amazing 32 World Cup events.

The top ten points scorers in a field of 30 will advance to the first of three finals on Saturday night, the remaining 20 athletes will face the judges in the second round of the qualification on Saturday, with the top 10 points scorers in that group also moving through to the first final of 20 athletes a few hours later.

Ning Qin, the first moguls competitor of China in Winter Olympics, scored 16.83 and ranked 21. The 22-year-old told Xinhua that she was quite satisfied with her Olympic debut and would try to enter the finals in her second attempt.

"I am so nervous before I started and I made some mistakes today, but I still ranked 21. Which means if I did better on Saturday, I will have chances to enter the finals," said Ning, who took up aerials skiing in 2000 when she was nine, before switching to moguls in 2005, "I am confident about that, let's wait and see."

"She is one of the best jumpers, that is her strength," said Ning's coach Murry Cluff. "Her turns are not as good as US or Canadian girls, but she can jump as good. I am satisfied with her run today and I am really excited for the next day."