Japan's Asada targeting record win

TOKYO (Reuters) - Japanese starlet Mao Asada has set her sights on breaking the magical 200-point mark in a bid to win her first world figure skating title next week.

The 16-year-old posted a record total of 199.52 at last December's NHK trophy and is relishing the prospect of facing America's current world champion Kimmie Meissner in Tokyo.

Asada easily surpassed 200 points in last year's Japanese championships, although domestic scores are not recognized by the International Skating Union (ISU).

After missing out on last year's Winter Olympics because of her age, Asada could emerge as Meissner's biggest threat for the world title over the March 19-25 competition.

"It hurt not to skate at the Olympics," Asada said. "These are my first world championships. I want to land a triple axel and score 200 points."

Shizuka Arakawa's gold medal in last year's Turin Olympics sparked a renewed surge in interest for figure skating in Japan with Asada and Miki Ando at the vanguard of the new order.

South Korea's Kim Yu-na, who won last year's Grand Prix Final, will also pose a threat to Meissner despite only recently recovering from a herniated disc.

American sweetheart Meissner is acutely aware of the pressure to retain the title she won in Calgary last year in her maiden world championships.

MIND GAMES

But the 17-year-old has been engaging in some early mind games by attempting to shift the pressure onto her Japanese rivals.

"When you're in your home country... there is a lot of pressure on you," said Meissner, who has already won a first national title and Four Continents title in 2007.

"I think there's going to be a lot of pressure on the Japanese."

Ando will be boosted by her victory over Meissner at Skate America while Europe's challenge could come from Italy's Carolina Kostner and Sarah Meier of Switzerland.

Meanwhile, Swiss world champion Stephane Lambiel of Switzerland and European champion Brian Joubert of France resume battle in the men's competition.

Joubert will be slight favorite to win his first world championship gold after winning December's Grand Prix Final and recovering from foot surgery.

Both men will be anxious to add another major title before Russian three-times world champion Yevgeny Plushenko's return from a year's sabbatical following his gold in Turin.

Japan's Daisuke Takahashi and Nobunari Oda will look to cash in on any weakness from the favorites with American Evan Lysacek a good outside bet after his Four Continents triumph.

Current world pairs champions Pang Qing Tong Jian will face stiff competition from fellow Chinese Shen Xue and Zhao Hongbo, who beat them for the Four Continents title.

Meanwhile, Bulgarians Albena Denkova and Maxim Staviski's hopes of retaining their ice dance title could come under threat from France's European champions Isabelle Delobel and Olivier Schoenfelder.