Asada triumphs, French pair on course

By Oliver Grassman

GOTHENBURG, Sweden (Reuters) - France's Isabelle Delobel and Olivier Schoenfelder stayed on course for the ice dancing gold but Thursday belonged to Japan's Mao Asada who won the ladies event after recovering from a spectacular fall.

Preparing for what was supposed to be an opening triple Axel, the 17-year-old slipped and slid into the boards to the accompaniment of Chopin's Fantasie Impromptu.

But Asada quickly regained her composure and produced an otherwise flawless routine, beating short program winner and European champion Carolina Kostner into second place.

"Never give up, that's what I've learned," smiled Asada, who put in a series of dazzling combinations and completed all her jumps except for the triple Axel to perfection.

Italy's Kostner, leading after Wednesday's short program, made too many errors on her jumps and had to settle for silver.

Korean Kim Yu-na claimed the bronze with the best free skate of the evening.

Asada improved on the world championship silver she won on home soil in 2007 in Tokyo.

"Last year, I made a big mistake in my short program and I realized then how important the short program is," she said.