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Hanyu wins All-Japan, secures Sochi berth

The Yomiuri Shimbun

Yuzuru Hanyu perfoms at the All-Japan Championships at Saitama Super Arena on Sunday.

The Yomiuri Shimbun SAITAMA—Teenager Yuzuru Hanyu won the men’s title at the All-Japan Figure Skating Championships on Sunday night, clinching a spot on Japan’s team for the upcoming Sochi Olympics.

Hanyu, who led after the short program, fell on his opening quad jump, but otherwise had a clean free program to win by over 20 points with 297.80 points at Saitama Super Arena.

Tatsuki Machida, who has won two Grand Prix events this season, finished second with 277.04 points to all but grab one of the remaining two seats.

The last spot is expected to go to either Takahiko Kozuka, who finished third at 264.81, or Daisuke Takahashi, who was fifth at 252.81.

Japan has three Sochi berths for both men and women. The All-Japan champion automatically earns one berth, while the other two are decided based on a combination of factors that include results at the All-Japan and Grand Prix competitions and world rankings.

Meanwhile, Mao Asada finished first in the women’s short program with 73.01 points. She was followed by Akiko Suzuki with 70.19 points and Kanako Murakami with 67.42 points.

Miki Ando, a two-time world champion who resumed skating after giving a birth to daughter and taking two years off, trailed in fifth with 64.87.