The fact that world champion Kim has dominated the season so far and Asada, the 2008 world champion, has struggled takes nothing away from the much-anticiplated clash between the 19-year-old rivals.

Kim is the hot favourite having lost just twice in the past two seasons, both times to Asada at the 2008 worlds and the 2008-2009 Grand Prix final.

And she opened this season in impressive fashion, winning the Trophee Eric Bompard in Paris by beating Asada with the highest-ever women’s total score with 210.03 points.

Although Canada’s Joannie Rochette will be hoping to rise to the occasion in front of her home crowd, the battle for gold in Vancouver looks set to be an Asian one between Kim, Asada and Japan’s Miki Ando.

Kim, Asada and Ando have won the last three world titles.

And of the nine medals on offer over the last three world championships, the trio have won seven, with Ando leading a sweep ahead of Asada and Kim in 2007.

Asada failed to qualify for the Grand Prix final after finishing fifth at the Cup of Russia.

But she has come back, sealing her berth to Vancouver by winning the Japanese championships, scoring a personal best in the free skate and overall with 204.62 putting her closer to Kim’s world record.

Asada admits that the rivalry has helped her over her poor year.

“(Kim) has been a good source of inspiration for me,” said Asada.

Both will be competing in their first Olympic Games after missing the 2006 Torino Games because they were too young to be eligible to compete.

Ando competed at the Turin Olympics where she finished a disappointing 15th.

This year she has won the Cup of Russia and the NHK Trophy but was runner-up behind Kim at the Grand Prix final.

Once best known for her jumps, Ando, who landed the first and only quad by a woman in competition back in 2002, has become a more rounded skater and coached by Russian Nikolai Morozov, who helped Shizuka Arakawa to a surprise gold in Torino four years ago, is hoping to emulate her countrywoman.

The third member of the Japanese team is Akiko Suzuki, who won the Cup of China, placed second at nationals and third at the Grand Prix final, and is also eyeing a podium spot.

The 22-year-old finished third at last year’s worlds behind Kim and Rochette, who is hoping to put the hosts on the women’s podium for the first time in 22 years, despite a mixed season.

Meanwhile, former giants the United States could find themselves off the women’s podium for the first time since the 1964 Innsbruck Games.

Olympic silver medallist Sasha Cohen, who has not skated internationally since 2006, has returned to competition but was forced to pull out of Skate America and the Trophee Eric Bompard with tendinitis in her right calf.

She is nevertheless hoping to qualify, meaning Vancouver would be her first major competition in four years.

But the Olympic Games can always spring surprises with the last three women’s champions – Tara Lipinsky, Sarah Hughes and Arakawa – not the favourites.

Joubert, who earlier this month won the NHK Trophy in Japan, suffered the injury in training in the French city of Poitiers and the French Skating Federation (FFSG) said he will miss the December 3-6 meeting.

The European triple champion and 2007 world champion cut his foot while attempting to nail a triple Lutz and underwent surgery on Thursday.

FFSG president Didier Gailhaguet said the surgery had been a success and had not revealed any break while the damaged ligaments had been repaired.

After his NHK Trophy win Joubert set his sights on using his trademark quadruple jumps to win gold at February’s Vancouver Olympics after a disappointing sixth in Turin four years ago.

Gailhaguet added: “It is a serious injury. The blade touched the bone. Brian told me he could see bone.

“It’s not the first time. It is a technical fault which often happens to him with new skates. In addition, he is in good form and hence is less vigilant on his technique,” Gailhaguet said.

His coach Laurent Depouilly admitted to initial concern at the extent of the injury. “We are going to sew back a bit of tendon and check that the bone is not too affected,” Depouilly explained.

Joubert, 25, suffered a similar injury in February 2007, again in training but needed just four days on the sidelines on that occasion.

He then went on to lift the world title a month later.

“Brian’s morale is very good,” Depouilly stressed.

He added that Joubert again wanted to get back on the ice within days but “there is no question of taking any risks.”

Ahead of Vancouver, Joubert is scheduled to compete at the European Championships in Tallinn from January 19 to 24.

Paris (AFP) –

Joubert, who last month won the NHK Trophy in Japan, suffered the injury in training a week ago and was forced out of the ISU Grand Prix final in Tokyo from December 3-6.

But Depouilly said the 25-year-old Frenchman was on the road to recovery as he bids to be fit for the Winter Olympic Games in February.

“Everything is going well. Brian is still resting. He’s on the road to recovery. The swelling has gone down on his foot compared to after the operation,” said Depouilly.

Joubert suffered a similar injury in February 2007, again in training, but needed just four days on the sidelines on that occasion.

He then went on to lift the world title a month later.

“The rate of recovery is better than the last time in 2007,” his coach said. “Now his big toe is bothering him more than the injury itself but his morale is good.”

Tokyo (AFP) –

Asada nailed her trademark triple axel in the free skate to triumph at the Japanese championships on Sunday, prompting a nationwide sigh of relief for one of the country’s few gold medal hopefuls at February’s Vancouver Winter Games.

“It is important to aim high. I want the gold medal,” the 19-year-old said on television on Monday. “I will aim to perfect all of my programmes.”

It was the first time that the 2008 world champion has stood on the top of the podium in any event this season, which has been fraught with her failures in landing the highly demanding 3.5-revolution jump.

Asada is the only woman who regularly attempts the triple axel in international competitions.

“Freed from the spell of the jump,” read a headline in the daily Asahi Shimbun, which put a picture of Asada waving to the crowd with a big smile and holding a bouquet in one hand on its front page.

The victory made her one of three Japanese women in the Olympic figure skating competition, in which South Korea’s reigning world champion Kim is the top favourite. World silver medalist Joannie Rochette of Canada and bronze medalist Miki Ando of Japan are among other contenders.

Kim, also 19, dethroned Asada at the world championships in April and regained the Grand Prix Final title from her this month.

Kim “has been a good source of inspiration for me. I want to work hard (at the Olympics) together with her,” Asada told Japanese media on Saturday.

Asada and Kim both missed the 2006 Turin Olympics as they were a few months too young to be eligible to compete.

Asada failed to qualify for the Grand Prix Final after she finished runner-up to Kim in the season-opening Grand Prix in Paris and placed fifth at the second round in Moscow.

“I know Asada is going through a tough time, but I’m sure that she’ll come to the Olympics,” Kim told Korean media after winning the final.

After under-rotating a triple-axel in her short programme at the nationals, Asada avoided attempting the jump twice in her free skating as she had done earlier this season. She had succeeded in only one of her eight previous triple axel attempts as she otherwise popped, landed on two feet or fell.

“It is burdensome to try it twice,” she said. “I wanted to focus on other elements as well.”

With just a 0.22-point lead from the short programme, she scored 135.50 points in free skating to win with a total 204.62.

The total, while not scored by judges from the International Skating Union (ISU), was close to the official world record of 210.03 points Kim set at the Paris Grand Prix. Asada has earned even higher points at previous nationals.

Asada’s personal ISU record is 201.87 scored at the World Team Trophy last April.

“I want to make further adjustments going into the next competition,” said Asada, due to take part in the Four Continents championships January 25-31 in Jeonju, South Korea, which Toronto-based Kim is expected to skip.

“I am the kind of skater who gets better in the second half (of a season).”

London (AFP) –

Phaneuf, skating just ahead of Rochette in the final two routines of the last group, received scores of 66.30 points from judges while Rochette scored 64.15 to take second with Amelie Lacoste a distant third at 53.99.

The short programme counts for one-third of the total women’s score with Saturday’s free skate accounting for the rest.

Two skaters from each discipline at the meet will qualify for next month’s Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games, with Phaneuf and Rochette in a strong position to advance.

Men’s and pairs short programmes and the original dance were scheduled later Friday with top two after the pairs, dance and women’s free skates Saturday and the men’s free skate Sunday qualifying to skate in the Olympic Games on home ice.

Paris (AFP) –

In Turin four years ago Plushenko blew away the opposition to claim his first Olympic title after winning silver in 2002.

The 27-year-old retired after his Turin success following knee problems.

But the skater from St Petersburg is now back and bidding to keep the title in Russian hands for the fifth consecutive Games.

A gold would also see the three-time world champion surpass the exploits of his once great rival Alexei Yagudin who won gold ahead of him at the 2002 Salt Lake City Games.

If he were to win in Vancouver he would become just the third man to claim consecutive titles and first since Dick Button successfully defended his at the 1952 Oslo Games.

The maestro showed he still has the golden touch by capturing the Cup of Russia, the only Grand Prix event he competed in this season and his first international competition since 2006.

The real test for him however will be the European championships in Talinn, Estonia which start on Tuesday.

One thing is sure, the Russian can expect a battle from challengers including world champion Evan Lysacek and fellow American Jeremy Abbott, former two-time world champion Stephane Lambiel of Switzerland and France’s Brian Joubert.

Japan’s Daisuke Takahashi and Nobunari Oda, Canada’s Patrick Chan and Czech Tomas Verner are also in the running.

A year after a thigh injury forced him to announce his retirement, Olympic silver-medallist Lambiel is back challenging in one final Games.

“The gold medal is possible,” said Lambiel, who will also be testing his form in his first major competition for nearly two years at the Europeans.

Lysacek placed fourth in Turin, but at the 2009 world championships in Los Angeles he skated a near perfect routine to win gold.

The American lost out to Oda in the Cup of China this season but hit back by stealing Oda’s thunder at the Grand Prix final in Tokyo with personal bests in the short programme, free skate and overall scorre.

Oda has shown his form with two Grand Prix wins in Paris and China but finished second at the Japanese nationals behind former world silver medallist Takahashi who has returned after knee surgery which forced the 2007 world silver medallist to miss the 2008-2009 season.

Both Oda and Takahashi would love nothing more than to become the first Japanese man to claim an Olympic figure skating medal.

World runner-up Chan, 19, returning following a calf injury, will also be competing in his first Olympic Games with the dream of a gold for the hosts.

Former world champion Joubert has the experience as he competes in his third Olympic Games but is also fighting back from a right foot injury.

The 25-year-old Frenchman placed just fourth at the Paris Grand Prix, but bounced back to win the NHK Trophy in Japan before injury struck.

Although the last two world championships have been won without a quadruple jump, it could prove the difference between gold and a podium finish in Vancouver where a changing of the guard is assured with older veterans up against younger stars hoping to make a big impression.

London (AFP) –

He dealt with illness, injury, a disastrous competitive debut at Skate Canada and, just days before he headed to nationals last week, the resignation of his primary coach Don Laws.

But, on Sunday, Chan, 19, shook off his early season woes and took a giant step forward towards re-establishing himself as a prime contender for the podium at the Olympic Winter Games in Vancouver with a convincing win of his third national crown.

He earned 268.02 points in all, a score puffed up perhaps by supportive Canadian judges. The silver medal and Canada’s second Olympic men’s berth went to Vaughn Chipeur whose score of 222.10 paled in comparison.

“I’m really taken aback with everything that happened here. With all the hardship I’ve had this season, to come through with a great performance here. When you put that (Olympic team) jacket on, you realize, I’m really going to the Olympics,” Chan said.

“I’m going to look forward to training now with a bit more weight off my shoulders.”

As the Olympic clock ticks down towards the men’s contest which begins less than a month from now, Chan will work hard to iron out the various wrinkles including less than solid landings that marred some triple jumps.

Under the watchful if not nervous gaze of his long-time Canadian choreographer and now coach Lori Nichol, and co-coach Christy Krall, from Colorado Springs, Chan performed superior if not yet superlative-worthy programmes here.

His performances were not yet on par with those he delivered last season in winning the ISU Four Continents title and world championships silver medal, but were better than some had expected on the heels of the resignation of his Florida-based coach Don Laws.

Laws threw in the towel saying he could not coach an athlete who had chosen to spend most of his time training 3,000 kilometres away in Colorado. Observers wondered if the split would thwart Chan’s Olympic ambitions, but it appears the transition has been rather seamless.

On Sunday, Chan credited training at altitude in Colorado with the increased stamina that allowed him to finish his demanding final step sequence with a flourish.

“I think we set him on a great path six weeks ago. We invoked everything he needed on-ice, off-ice — nutrition, sleep — enforcing that and tweaking it along the way,” Nichol said. “He’s been working hard, working smart and I think tonight is a product of that.”

Like Evgeni Plushenko at the Russian nationals, Chan also earned an astronomical score (90.14) for his short programme on Friday, considering the missteps he made.

To his credit, he was not shy about conceding the scores were inflated, especially since he managed only a triple-double jump combination when a triple-triple is expected at this level and put a hand down to stay upright on landing his triple flip.

His oft-troublesome triple Axel, however, was superb in the opener and his footwork impressive.

“I’ll be honest. I think it was a bit like Plushenko,” Chan said of the generous scoring. “I’m sure the other skaters are shaking their heads, but points don’t mean much to me. It’s how I felt going out and how I skated.”

Asked if her student is now on pace to challenge for the podium at the Games in four weeks time, Nichol answered, “You betcha. I have no question he’s going to be totally ready.”

Spokane (AFP) –

The 24-year-old Abbott breezed to victory with a overall score of 263.66 points to finish well ahead of 2009 World Champion Evan Lysacek.

“I’m speechless,” Abbott said. “Last year, this is what I thought my first title would feel like, but here I am a second time. It just feels like the first time.”

Skating to the music Saen-Sans’ Symphony No. 3, Abbott set the tone for his skate by completing a quadruple toe loop.

“After the quad, it was business as usual,” Abbott said. “I still had seven jumping passes and eight triple jumps to do. I stuck to my plan, stayed focused, and finally did what I’ve been doing in practice.”

Three-time national champion Johnny Weir placed third overall. He was third after the short programme then dropped to fifth in the free skate.

Abbott, Lysacek and Weir will represent the US at next month’s Olympic Winter Games.

Ryan Bradley placed fourth overall and Adam Rippon, who was fourth in the short programme, rounded out the top five.

Lysacek was second after the short programme but finished third in the free skate by completing six triple jumps.

“Some things didn’t go as I had hoped them to go, but some things did go as I had planned them to go obviously,” Lysacek said. “I have mixed feelings today.”

Spokane (AFP) –

The 24-year-old Abbott breezed to victory with a overall score of 263.66 points to finish well ahead of 2009 World Champion Evan Lysacek.

“I’m speechless,” Abbott said. “Last year, this is what I thought my first title would feel like, but here I am a second time. It just feels like the first time.”

Skating to the music Saen-Sans’ Symphony No. 3, Abbott set the tone for his skate by completing a quadruple toe loop.

“After the quad, it was business as usual,” Abbott said. “I still had seven jumping passes and eight triple jumps to do. I stuck to my plan, stayed focused, and finally did what I’ve been doing in practice.”

Three-time national champion Johnny Weir placed third overall. He was third after the short programme then dropped to fifth in the free skate.

Abbott, Lysacek and Weir will represent the US at next month’s Olympic Winter Games.

Ryan Bradley placed fourth overall and Adam Rippon, who was fourth in the short programme, rounded out the top five.

Lysacek was second after the short programme but finished third in the free skate by completing six triple jumps.

“Some things didn’t go as I had hoped them to go, but some things did go as I had planned them to go obviously,” Lysacek said. “I have mixed feelings today.”