Japan’s Mao Asada wins women’s Four Continents skating title with flawless triple axel

Japan’s Asada wins Four Continents skate

JEONJU, South Korea — Japan’s Mao Asada has won the women’s singles title at the Four Continents figure skating championships in a strong performance just weeks before the Olympics.

The four-time Japanese national champ nailed the triple axel in the free skate Friday. That feat earned her a season’s best score of 126.74 points and lifted her to first place ahead of compatriot Akiko Suzuki.

Suzuki had been in first place after the short program but faltered on her combination jump and finished second, ahead of Caroline Zhang of the United States.