Mao Asada AP PHOTO

Figure skater Mao Asada rebounded from a sixth-place showing in the short program to have the best score in the women's free skate to finish in second place behind South Korean rival Kim Yu Na in the Grand Prix Final in Turin, Italy on Dec. 15.

Earlier in the day, Daisuke Takahashi missed out on becoming the first Japanese man to win the prestigious title and finished second behind two-time world champion Stephane Lambiel of Switzerland, who snatched a come-from-behind victory.

Asada has earned a berth in the world figure skating championships in Gothenburg, Sweden, in March, based on selection standards by the Japan Skating Federation.