ID :
97019
Mon, 12/28/2009 - 02:14
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://www.oananews.org//node/97019
The shortlink copeid
Figure skating: Asada wins national title, gets Olympic spot
+
KADOMA, Japan, Dec. 27 Kyodo -
Mao Asada set up a much-anticipated Olympic clash with South Korean world
champion Kim Yu Na by winning her fourth consecutive national title Sunday.
Asada and second-place finisher Akiko Suzuki clinched the last two Olympic
spots for Japanese women, joining Miki Ando, who had already qualified with a
runner-up finish behind Kim at the Grand Prix Final.
Daisuke Takahashi, Nobunari Oda and Takahiko Kozuka will enter the men's
competition in Vancouver as the Japan Skating Federation announced both the
men's and women's Olympic teams after the three-day national championships at
Namihaya Dome in Osaka.
Asada earned 135.50 points in the free skate and 204.62 overall.
The 19-year-old cleanly landed a triple axel early and went on to complete her
program without a noticeable miscue.
''My Olympic spot was on the line, so I felt pressure not to make mistakes,''
Asada said.
''I'm so happy that I could wrap up this event with a good performance,'' added
Asada, who decided on one triple axel in her free skate instead two as planned.
The 19-year-old will make her Olympic debut four years after she was left out
of the Turin Games due to the age limit despite impressive results in senior
events, including victory at the 2005 Grand Prix Final.
Asada will compete for the gold medal with rivals such as Kim, Ando and
Canadian Joannie Rochette.
Suzuki moved up from fourth in the short program to finish second with 195.90.
The 24-year-old could not hold back tears of joy as soon as she found out she
had moved past Nakano on the leaderboard.
Yukari Nakano was 0.17 behind Suzuki in third place.
''I enjoyed my skate today. I was able to use my excitement in a positive
way,'' Suzuki said. ''The season went better than I expected. It's definitely a
breakout season for me.''
She captured her first career Grand Prix title at the Cup of China in October
and finished third at the Grand Prix Final in early December.
Ando finished fourth and two-time Olympian Fumie Suguri seventh.
In ice dance, Cathy Reed and Chris Reed won their third consecutive Japanese
title with a total of 163.37 points.
The sister-brother duo, whose mother is Japanese and father American, will make
their Olympic debut in Vancouver after Cathy chose Japanese nationality earlier
this year.
==Kyodo
2009-12-27 22:26:00
KADOMA, Japan, Dec. 27 Kyodo -
Mao Asada set up a much-anticipated Olympic clash with South Korean world
champion Kim Yu Na by winning her fourth consecutive national title Sunday.
Asada and second-place finisher Akiko Suzuki clinched the last two Olympic
spots for Japanese women, joining Miki Ando, who had already qualified with a
runner-up finish behind Kim at the Grand Prix Final.
Daisuke Takahashi, Nobunari Oda and Takahiko Kozuka will enter the men's
competition in Vancouver as the Japan Skating Federation announced both the
men's and women's Olympic teams after the three-day national championships at
Namihaya Dome in Osaka.
Asada earned 135.50 points in the free skate and 204.62 overall.
The 19-year-old cleanly landed a triple axel early and went on to complete her
program without a noticeable miscue.
''My Olympic spot was on the line, so I felt pressure not to make mistakes,''
Asada said.
''I'm so happy that I could wrap up this event with a good performance,'' added
Asada, who decided on one triple axel in her free skate instead two as planned.
The 19-year-old will make her Olympic debut four years after she was left out
of the Turin Games due to the age limit despite impressive results in senior
events, including victory at the 2005 Grand Prix Final.
Asada will compete for the gold medal with rivals such as Kim, Ando and
Canadian Joannie Rochette.
Suzuki moved up from fourth in the short program to finish second with 195.90.
The 24-year-old could not hold back tears of joy as soon as she found out she
had moved past Nakano on the leaderboard.
Yukari Nakano was 0.17 behind Suzuki in third place.
''I enjoyed my skate today. I was able to use my excitement in a positive
way,'' Suzuki said. ''The season went better than I expected. It's definitely a
breakout season for me.''
She captured her first career Grand Prix title at the Cup of China in October
and finished third at the Grand Prix Final in early December.
Ando finished fourth and two-time Olympian Fumie Suguri seventh.
In ice dance, Cathy Reed and Chris Reed won their third consecutive Japanese
title with a total of 163.37 points.
The sister-brother duo, whose mother is Japanese and father American, will make
their Olympic debut in Vancouver after Cathy chose Japanese nationality earlier
this year.
==Kyodo
2009-12-27 22:26:00
