Asada may change her short program

By Ryu Seung-yoon



Japanese figure skating icon Mao Asada, who was defeated at the Grand Prix figure skating series opener in Paris by Kim Yu-na of Korea, is considering changing her short program.

The Japanese newspaper Sports Nippon reported on Wednesday, "Aiming to win a gold medal in the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympic Games, Asada may replace her short program with the gala show program after the second Grand Prix which will be held in Russia from Oct. 22 to 25."

The 19-year-old figure skater used last season`s free skating program, Soviet-Armenian composer Aram Il`ich Khachaturian`s "Masquerade Waltz," for this season`s short program.

However, she placed second with a score of 58.96 points, 17.12 behind her rival Kim Yu-na.

Asada particularly encountered criticism over reusing last season`s program, while Kim thrilled the audience with the theme song from the James Bond movies.

For this reason, Asada is thinking of changing her short program to Italian violinist Niccolo Paganini`s "Capriccio."

Being originally made for Asada`s short program, "Capriccio" consisted of two double axels and a triple flip. If she turns the double axels in the opening part to a triple axel-double toe loop combination jump, she can use it as her new short program.

"We are going to wait and see the audience`s response at the figure skating gala and second Grand Prix, then we will make a final decision for her," an unnamed associate of Asada said in the interview.





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