Tokyo: Led by 2005 world junior champion Mao Asada, hosts Japan have a strong squad for the World Figure Skating Championships in Tokyo in March.

"This time, (the Turin Olympic champion) Shizuka Arakawa and (former world champion) Irina Slutskaya do not take part. All the attention would be focused on two Asian skaters," said Junko Hiramatsu of the Japan Skating Federation.

"Hiramatsu said that Asada, Grand Prix Final winner Kim Yu-Na of South Korea, and Kimmie Meissner of the United States were favourites in the women's competition.

Japan's Miki Ando and Yukari Nakano, and Sarah Meier of Switzerland would also be strong contenders," she added.

 "The men's title would be contested by Brian Joubert of France, world champion Stephane Lambiel of Switzerland, three Americans, including Johnny Weir and Evan Lysacek, and Canada's Jeffrey Buttle," Miramatsu said.

"It's good to have rivals of my same age, because it gives me a great stimulus," Asada said of 16-year-old Kim, who beat the Japanese into second place in the 2006 World Junior Championships and the Grand Prix Final.

Asada, also 16,caused a sensation by beating former world champion Slutskaya of Russia to win the 2005 Grand Prix Final, and became the national champion, beating Ando and Nakano in December, to qualify for the worlds.

"Of course, I want to win the championships, but if I think about winning it, I will be under pressure. I'm going to concentrate on completing my performance without an error," said Asada.

"I can jump a triple axel with confidence. It's my favourite performance. We have some more time before the next Olympics in Vancouver (in 2010). I'm going to improve it further, along with steps, spins and spirals," she said.

Ando, the only female skater to have landed a quadruple in competition, struggled last season, but proved she was back to her best by winning Skate America in October.

The 19-year-old Ando, who overcame a shoulder problem to finish runner-up at the nationals in December to qualify for the worlds, said her shoulder should be all right by the time of the championships, from March 20-25.

"I haven't skated after the national championships, but I'm not irritated by my shoulder problem. I haven''''t failed to land a jump this season, so I can start the championships with great confidence," said Ando.

 "I'm going to concentrate on landing my first triple jump. I'm going to start practising a quadruple jump as soon as doctors give me a green light," he said.

National men's champion Daisuke Takahashi and his arch rival, Nobunari Oda, the winner at Skate America, will challenge Joubert and Lambiel.

"It's my third world championships. I want to win a medal by showing a perfect performance. I'm very confident," said Takahashi, the runner-up at the Grand Prix Final.Nozomi Watanabe and Akiyuki Kido will be taking part in the ice dancing.