Japanese figure skating chief backs Asada to bounce back 
- Source, The Mainichi Daily News
NAGOYA (Kyodo) -- Hidehito Ito, the Japan Skating Federation's director of figure skating, said Sunday he is unconcerned by the form of Mao Asada and confident the world champion will come good after a disastrous start to the season at the NHK Trophy.
Asada, who is skating a new program under recently appointed coach Nobuo Sato, struggled with error-littered performances in both the short and free programs and finished in eighth place Saturday with 133.40 points -- her worst ever score at a senior international event.
That result has placed in jeopardy her chances of making the Grand Prix Final in Beijing in December. The 20-year-old will almost certainly miss out for the second year in a row should she fail to win her next scheduled event at the Nov. 26-28 Trophee Eric Bompard in Paris.
"Psychologically Mao is nowhere near where she should be yet and the same goes for practice," Ito told reporters after competition at the first event of the Grand Prix campaign wrapped up with the men's free program at Nihon Gaishi Hall.
"Obviously it was a disappointing result but the season has only just begun and I am not overly concerned.
"Her jumps and skating are gradually getting better and if she gets plenty of practice under her belt and can communicate well with her coach she will be where she needs to be toward the end of the season," he said.
"She is entered to skate in France (at the Trophee Bompard) and that is what she should be working her way towards. I just hope she gets better," he added.
Here mind elsewhere, Asada still looked sluggish in Sunday's closing gala, botching a triple loop and a triple flip, and admitted she was eager to get back to practice as soon as possible.
"The only thing on my mind is practice right now. I want to train as much as I can with my coach and keep chipping away," Asada said.
"I spoke with my coach last night about this event and about training from now on and he said he was worried after my performance at the Japan Open, but a little more at ease having looked at the overall picture from this event and my practice. He said it will be hard but we can build things up.
"I couldn't perform well here but the fans have been good to me and I want to try and show them a good performance at the next event," she said.
(Mainichi Japan) October 25, 2010
Subject: Japanese figure skating chief backs Asada to bounce back 
