TOKYO, May 18 (Xinhua) -- Former world champion Mao Asada from Japan said Monday that she would attempt a comeback in competitive figure skating after one-year break.
"I've been out for a year since I announced I would go on leave," Asada, the Olympic silver medalist, said in a press conference attended by more than 200 journalist. "But as time passed, I realized that I missed competing and wanted the fulfilling feeling of competing again."
Asada, 24, went into semi-retirement after winning her third world championship in March last year. But last week, her coach Nobuo Sato said Asada had asked him to work with her again.
However, it is not clear when Asada's first competition will be after go back to ice. According to Kyodo News Agency, she is scheduled to do shows around the country from July 22-Aug. 2.
The Japan Skating Federation will continue to monitor Asada for the next several weeks before deciding whether she will be fit enough for the 2015-2016 Grand Prix season.