Mother of Japanese figure skater Asada dies
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NAGOYA, Japan (AP) - Kyoko Asada, the mother of two-time world champion figure skater Mao Asada, has died aged 48.
Asada pulled out of the ISU Grand Prix Final in Quebec City, Canada, to return to Japan on Friday after learning that her mother's condition had worsened.
Kyoko Asada passed away at a Nagoya hospital before Mao arrived back in Japan, Asada's agency IMG said in a statement late Friday. Kyodo news agency reported that Asada's mother had cirrhosis of the liver.
Asada was set to compete in her first ISU Grand Prix final since 2008. The 21-year-old failed to win a single event in the worst season of her competitive career in 2010-2011, but qualified for this year's final by finishing second at the NHK Trophy and winning the Rostelecom Cup in Moscow last month.
Mao Asada was very close to her mother who traveled regularly with her daughter domestically and internationally. Mao's older sister Mai Asada was also a figure skater.
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