Asada, Takahashi Look to Make GP Final on Home Ice

Japanese skaters Mao Asada and Daisuke Takahashi will be aiming to secure berths in the Grand Prix final at this weekend's NHK Trophy, the sixth and final event of the International Skating Union's GP series.

Asada, who won the Cup of China two weeks ago, can wrap up a place in the GP final in Sochi next month with a podium finish here.

With a silver medal from Skate Canada, Japan's Akiko Suzuki also has a good shot at the GP final. Also in the mix is Agnes Zawadzki of the United States, who took bronze at the Rostelecom Cup earlier this month.

Takahashi, who won silver at the Cup of China, is among the favorites in the men's event along with compatriot Yuzuru Hanyu, who took silver at Skate America. Skate Canada champion Javier Fernandez of Spain will provide a tough challenge for the Japanese men and is looking to book his ticket to Sochi as well.

With a place in the GP final on the line, Asada will likely opt not to attempt her trademark triple axel. If Asada reaches the GP final it will be the first time she has done so since 2008, when she came from behind to beat South Korea's Kim Yu-na on the strength of two triple axels.

Mirai Nagasu of the United States will also be competing here. Nagasu came in fourth in the Cup of China in what was to be her lone GP assignment of the season, but was a late addition to the NHK Trophy field after Russia's Polina Shelepen withdrew with an ankle injury last week.

Russia's Vera Bazarova and Yuri Larionov will be favored in pairs after taking second at home in Moscow at the Rostelecom Cup. They will be challenged by Canadians Kirsten Moore-Towers and Dylan Moscovitch, who still have a shot for the final after placing fourth in China.

Americans Meryl Davis and Charlie White, the 2011 world champions, are the favorites in ice dance. They won at Skate America and will go up against Russia's Elena Ilinykh and Nikita Katsalapov, who took second at the Rostelecom Cup.

The competition begins Friday with the short dance and the men's and women's short programs. The pairs short program, the free dance and the men's and women's free skate will be held Saturday and the completion concludes Sunday with the pairs free skate.