Daisuke Takahashi wins Japan nationals to secure berth at Vancouver Olympics

Takahashi secures Olympic berth at Japan nationals

OSAKA, Japan — Daisuke Takahashi won the Japan national figure skating championships Saturday to secure a place in the Vancouver Olympics.

Takahashi, who was first after the short program, made several mistakes in Saturday’s free skate but was good enough to finish first with a total of 261.13 points.

“I’m happy to be Japan champion but I’m not completely satisfied with my performance tonight,” Takahashi said. “I have some time to practice before the Olympics and need to improve physically and mentally.”

Takahashi stumbled on his opening quad toe loop and a triple loop later in his routine but finished 17 points ahead of Nobunari Oda.

Oda, who has already secured a place in Vancouver, fell on his opening quad toe loop but was solid the rest of the way and finished second with 244.30 points.

Takahiko Kozuka was third with 236.16 points and is likely to be added to the Olympic team when the Japan Skating Federation announces the squad Sunday.

Takahashi, a former top-ranked skater, was a three-time winner of the Japan nationals before he injured his right knee last year and missed the entire 2008-09 season.

In the women’s short program, Mao Asada finished first to strengthen her chances of securing a berth for the Olympics.

Asada’s opening triple axel in the combination was downgraded to a double axel but she completed the rest of her routine without error to receive 69.12 points.

Yukari Nakano, who is also bidding for one of two places remaining for Vancouver, was second with 68.90 points while Miki Ando was third with 68.68.

Asada has struggled this season but said Saturday’s performance was a big step forward.

“I came here with the intention of booking a ticket to the Olympics,” Asada said. “I feel like I’ve cleared one hurdle and hope to carry this momentum into the free skate.”

The 19-year-old Asada finished a disappointing fifth at the Rostelecom Cup in Moscow in October and second at the season-opening Trophee Bompard, won by South Korea’s Kim Yu-na. Asada failed to qualify for the Grand Prix finals in Tokyo earlier this month, another event won by Kim.

Asada’s last win was at the 2008 Japan nationals.

“I got a lot of support from the fans today,” Asada said. “It’s been a while since I got a standing ovation.”

Ando has already earned a place in Vancouver by finishing second at the GP finals.

Assuming Asada earns a place in the Olympics, the third and final spot will likely come down to a race between Nakano and Akiko Suzuki, who was fourth in the short program with 67.84 points.