Rika Kihira in the women's free skate at the World Team Trophy figure skating at Maruzen Intec

The 19-year-old, who won her second straight national women's singles title last December, has not fully recovered from the osteochondral injury she suffered in July.... 12-13 NHK Trophy in Tokyo, but she will most likely miss out on the Dec.... 9-11 Grand Prix Final in Osaka, contested by only the top six skaters in the series....

Kaori Sakamoto performs in the women's short program at the national figure skating championships at Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, eastern Japan, on Dec.... Mana Kawabe rounded out the top three on 74.27, with four-time national champion and 2018 Olympian Satoko Miyahara fourth on 73.76.... 23-26 nationals are the final qualifying event for next February's Beijing Winter Olympics....

Yuzuru Hanyu performs in the men's short program at the national figure skating championships at Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, eastern Japan, on Dec.... Former junior national champion Yuma Kagiyama placed third on 95.15.... After withdrawing from the NHK Trophy and Rostelecom Cup in the Grand Prix series last month, Hanyu stoked fears about his fitness by skipping a training session on the eve of the Thursday-Sunday nationals....