Asada holds off Ando for national title

OSAKA (Kyodo) Mao Asada took full advantage of the lead she had after the short program to win her second consecutive national title Friday, fighting off a comeback bid by world champion Miki Ando in the free skate.

Mao Asada (center), Miki Ando(left) and Yukari Nakano celebrate on the podium after the National Championships at Namihaya Dome in Kadoma, Osaka Pref., on Friday. Asada finished first followed by Ando and Nakano. KYODO PHOTO

Asada, who led Ando by 4.24 points in Thursday's short program, failed in her triple axel attempt and had a shaky landing on a combination jump but hung on to win with a total of 205.33 points.

Ando topped the field in the free skate and finished runnerup overall with 204.18. Yukari Nakano followed in third with 184.31 and qualified for the world championships to be held in Sweden in March, along with the top two skaters.

"I'm very happy that I won back-to-back titles in a major competition like this for the first time," Asada said. "I knew I needed to get back on my feet when I couldn't get the triple axel done earlier in my program. That's the jump I really want to perform without a mistake at the world championships.

"I still have a lot to do to improve on my skating, and hopefully I'll make it perfect to do better than the silver I got at this year's world championships," Asada added.

Ando, skating last among the 24 women in the free skate, received a standing ovation from the crowd at Namihaya Dome following a solid program that earned her 135.50 points, to Asada's 132.41.

She came up short in her bid to win her first national title since her back-to-back victories in 2003-2004 but appeared satisfied with her showing.

"I'm totally happy with this result, which enabled me to skate in the world championships," Ando said. "I just tried to do my best after failing to make it to the Grand Prix Final and I guess I was able to give nearly 100 percent of my effort tonight."

Ando was speaking about her nightmare free skate performance at the NHK Trophy nearly a month ago, which cost her a spot in the elite field of six skaters at the Grand Prix Final earlier this month.