Mao Asada performs during the ladies’ free skating competition on Sunday. Photo: AFP

Mao Asada finally dethroned Olympic champion Kim Yu-na to put Japan on top of the medals table on the final day of the 100th world figure skating championships in Turin, Italy on Sunday.

Olympic runner-up Asada claimed her second world title after the Gothenburg worlds in 2008, as teammate Daisuke Takahashi became the first Asian to win the men's gold earlier last week.

Asia claimed an unprecedented three of the four titles on offer as, for the first time, Europe failed to take at least one gold.

Asada finished second behind Kim in the free program but it was enough to seal her first victory over her longtime rival since the Grand Prix Final in December 2008.

Overwhelming favorite Kim had struggled in seventh after Friday's short program when she blamed a foot problem for her mistakes.

The South Korean needed to match her record-breaking Olympic exploits in the free skate but a fall during her routine left her holding the silver.

As Kim struggled, the feisty Asada, who had placed second in the short program, was determined to seize her chance.

Skating to Rachmaninov's "Bells of Moscow" she gave an error-free performance, open-ing with a solid triple axel, the difficult 3.5-rotation jump which she is the only woman to land in competition.

She downgraded her second attempted triple axel, but added four more triples to achieve 129.50 points for the free skate and 197.58 overall, to finish 6.80 points ahead of her rival.

"I didn't think I would be sitting here," admitted Asada, who had a poor season before rebounding with a fourth national title and the Olympic silver.

"I had to continue to challenge myself and push myself to try the triple Axel. The spirit of challenge has helped me to get where I was today."

"I've done perfectly in both long and short program. I'm satisfied with this competition and it is a relief after the Olympic Games."

Skating in the earlier group, the 19-year-old Kim needed something exceptional to defend her title.

But she was far from her majestic best and after her fall on the triple salchow she did not attempt the final double axel in her performance to Gershwin's "Concerto in F".

She nevertheless scored the best marks in the free skate with 130.49 for 190.78 overall.

In Vancouver Kim scored 228.56 overall and 150.06 in the free skate.

Laura Lepisto gave Finland their first world medal with bronze, as American Mirai Nagasu, who had led the short program, struggled with her jumps to finish seventh.

Agencies