Asada gets ready to rival Kim in Vancouver (Feature)

By Ahn Mi Young Feb 3, 2010, 6:02 GMT

Seoul - Japanese figure skating star Mao Asada goes into the Vancouver Olympics with confidence boosted by a major victory and ready to challenge South Korea's reigning world champion Kim Yu-Na.

Asada, the 2008 world champion, clinched top spot last Friday at the Four Continents event in the southern South Korean city of Jeonju, thrilling her fans by landing the triple axel twice.

The victory comes ahead of a much-anticipated duel with Kim Yu-Na, the overwhelming favourite to give South Korea a first Olympic figure skating gold in the Games.

'I was pressured to defend the 2008 championship all the way through the last year. Now I am released from the pressure. I am even feeling comfortable to have someone like Yu-Na to trail,' Asada told Yonhap news after her victory.

Kim, who leads South Korea's largest winter Olympics team at the Vancouver Games beginning on February 12, has won all three major skating events of 2009, in Vancouver, Los Angeles and Paris.

Asada trailed Kim by finishing third, fourth and second at the events and has not beaten Kim since the Grand Prix final in 2008.

The rivalry began when both stars were shy girls who appeared to have many similarities. In recent year, however, they have drifted apart in their skating outlooks.

Kim has become an aggressive and energetic performer, leaving behind the poetic charm of her earlier performances. It appeared to be a deliberate attempt to distance herself from Asada who is often described as a graceful performer.

In Jeonju, Asada hit two triple axels, a challenging jump that requires a forward take-off and three-and-half revolutions in the air. Few women dare to land the jump in competition.

'I don't want to put on too much storylines or ride on musical rhythms. I just want to focus on skating glory or skating power itself,' Asada said.

Kim has become an icon of hope for South Koreans. Millions of fans follow her every move, leading to concerns that too much pressure is being put upon her.

Meanwhile, Asada puts her emphasis on a style known in Japanese as 'hiyahiya' - building a tantalizing sense of suspense.

For Asada's many fans, who are eager for her to spring a surprise, it is reflected in a growing feeling of anticipation and anxiety.

Asada herself said she would prefer not care too much about her Olympic scores.

'I'd rather be enjoying skating itself. Even putting myself on a strict diet is not difficult,' she said.