OSAKA, Japan — Mao Asada will be looking to re-establish herself as a gold medal contender for the Vancouver Olympics at this weekend’s Japan national figure skating championships.

Asada has long been considered the main rival to gold medal favorite Kim Yu-na of South Korea but has struggled this season in the International Skating Union’s Grand Prix series.
A total of four Olympic berths will be determined at the Dec. 25-27 Japan nationals.
The 19-year-old Asada placed a disappointing fifth at the Rostelecom Cup in Moscow in October and finished second at the season-opening Trophee Bompard, won by Kim. Asada failed to qualify for the Grand Prix finals in Tokyo earlier this month, another event won by her South Korean rival.
Asada will be chasing a fourth straight national title but more importantly a chance to build some momentum for Vancouver.
Two Japanese women will secure Olympic berths this weekend, while Miki Ando has wrapped up a place in Vancouver by finishing second in the GP finals.
Assuming Asada takes one place, the third and final spot will likely come down to a race between 24-year-old skaters Akiko Suzuki and Yukari Nakano.
Suzuki won the Cup of China and was third at the GP final. Nakano has struggled this year and could only manage third place at the Trophee Bompard and fourth at the NHK Trophy.
One of just five women to land a triple axel in international competition, Nakano was passed over in favor of Ando in 2006.
On the men’s side, Japan also has three slots for Vancouver. Nobunari Oda secured the first by finishing second at the GP final. The two remaining places will be contended for by former world No. 1 Daisuke Takahashi and Takahiro Kozuka.
Takahashi was fifth at the GP final and is still struggling with his stamina after missing all of the 2008-09 season with a right knee injury. He was first in the men’s short program at the GP finals but dropped all the way to fifth after an error-filled free skate.
Kozuka, the 2006 world junior champion, started this season strong with a second-pace showing at the Rostelecom Cup but stumbled to a seventh place finish at the NHK Trophy in Nagano.
The men’s short program is scheduled for Friday while the women’s competition begins Saturday. The 2010 Olympic team members will be announced on Sunday following the women’s free skate.