GOTHENBURG, Sweden (AFP) - Japan's Mao Asada battled back from a spectacular fall to claim her first women's title at the world figure skating championships here on Thursday.

The 17-year-old looked as if she was out of the running as she tumbled badly on her triple axel at the start of the free skating programme to Chopin's Fantaisie Impromptu but showed her determination to succeed with a stunning routine which moved her up from her silver medal last year.

"I don't know what happened, I was surprised myself. My heart stopped!" said Asada of her fall.

"But I did not hurt myself. I am very happy to have won today after winning the silver medal at the World Championships in Tokyo last year."

She landed six triple jumps and four doubles for a combined 185.56 points to snatch the title ahead of Carolina Kostner, who had been bidding to give Italy their first title in the women's event but had to settle for silver after a sloppy performance to Dumsky Trio by Antonin Dvorak.

Kostner, who had been leading Asada after the short programme, cut her right index finger as she touched the ice several times, including on her triple lutz and her double axel-triple toeloop combination.

The Italian scored 184.68 overall with South Korea's Kim Yu-na moving up from fifth position to snatch bronze for the second straight year after achieving the highest marks for her remarkable free programme to Miss Saigon.

She achieved a total of 183.23.

Kostner, 21, admitted that the pressure of leading had gotten to her.

"I was a bit uncertain on some landings, as it was the first time for me to have such a responsibility. But I managed to get to the end quite well, although I am a bit disappointed about my mistakes."

A disappointed Kim said she had given it everything during her bid to give her country their first world title.

"I felt tired at the end of the programme. It was not a bad programme and I'm glad that I could come back," she added.

Japan's Yukari Nakano missed out on a podium finish as the 22-year-old, who had been third after the short progamme, lost points for downgrading a triple axel at the start of her programme to Capriccio Espagnol.

Asada becomes the fifth Japanese woman to hold the title and third in the past five years.

Her compatriot Miki Ando, the defending champion, was forced to retire just seconds into her programme to Bizet's Carmen because of a muscle injury she picked up in the warm-up session.

Ando, who had been eighth after the short programme, stumbled on her opening combination and fell on her triple salchow before stopping and tearfully telling the judges she could not go on because of cramp.

Ando explained: "I just can't feel my muscle, but I decided to continue with the competition, because this is the worlds and it is important for me.

"Even if I don't win the gold it is important to try."

Earlier France's Isabelle Delobel and Olivier Schoenfleder, the 2007 European champions, held the ice dance lead after the original dance, and are favourites heading into Friday's free dance finale.

Dancing a French country dance, the Breton Gavotte, the six-time national champions also lead Tuesday's compulsory dance.

They gave a faultless presentation to score 67.25 points to beat their personal best by nearly four points for a total of 107.98.

"Anything can happen tomorrow, but we also want to win the free programme so as not to have any surprises. The hardest is yet to come," said Schoenfelder.

Russia's Jana Khokhlova and Sergei Novitski moved up to second from third after the compulsory dance, 4.01pts behind the French.

Canadians Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir dropped down to third at 4.46 after a slight synchronisation error in their rotations.