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Tuesday January 9, 6:04 PMFigure skating: Asada wants to pull off triple axel on worlds debut(Kyodo) _ Teenage figure skating star Mao Asada will try to successfully land a triple axel in her world championships debut in Tokyo next March.Asada executed a triple axel for the first time in competition this season in winning her first singles title at the national championships late last month. "I'll just try to execute what I've got in my program," Asada told a press conference Tuesday for Japanese entries at the March 20-24 championships. "I want to win the title at my first world championships, but I'll try not to think about winning too much because I get very nervous," she said. "I want to deliver a perfect performance." Asada is expected to face close competition from fellow 16-year-old Kim Yu Na of South Korea, who beat Asada to deny her a second straight title at the prestigious Grand Prix Final in Russia last month. Kim has been granted eligibility to compete at the worlds despite missing the ongoing national championships -- a qualifying event -- due to a slight hernia. Miki Ando, also among five Japanese skaters attending the press conference said, "My best finish at the worlds is fourth (in 2004), so I'll try to make the top three." Ando is nursing a right shoulder injury she sustained at the national championships, in which she finished runner-up to Asada. On the men's side, national champion Daisuke Takahashi will make his third world championships appearance. "I believe a medal is within my reach," Takahashi said. He finished 11th in 2004 and 15th in 2005. |
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