Japan suffers a setback before the Turin Winter Olympics as one
of its most medal hopefuls was prevented from the Games.
Mao Asada, who turned 15 in September, is three months too young
to be eligible for the Turin Games. Asada toppled world number-one
Irina Slutskaya of Russia to win the women's title at the figure
skating Grand Prix series final.
Thus Japan pins its hope solely on male speed skater Joji Kato
to end its gold-medal drought.
Kato, a 20-year-old, set the world record of 34.30 seconds last
November on his way to win three 500-meter World Cup events this
season.
"We can only count on Kato for a gold medal but there are many
competitors who have medals within their reach," said Japan's
delegation chief Kenichi Chizuka.
He hoped for a total of eight medals -- three in speed skating,
two in snowboard and one each in figure skating, ski jumping and
freestyle moguls skiing.
At the 2002 Salt Lake City Games, Japan collected just one
silver and one bronze while China and South Korea each pocketed two
short-track golds.
Earlier at the 1998 Nagano Games, the hosts had their best-ever
haul of 10 medals, including five golds.
(Xinhua News Agency Feb.1, 2006)