Japan's Mao Asada recovered from an early fall to deliver a sparkling free skate and win the women's event at the figure skating World Championships in Gothenburg.

Asada slipped as she prepared for what was supposed to the first jump in her routine to Chopin's Fantasie Impromptu, sliding into the boards instead of completing a triple Axel.

But the 17-year-old rallied and breezed through the rest of her routine, beating short programme winner and European champion Carolina Kostner into second place.

"My heart stopped," a smiling Asada said of the fall, adding that she did not hurt herself.

She proceeded with a dazzling triple flip, triple toe loop combination and never looked back, landing all the ensuing jumps to perfection and sending the audience into raptures.

"Since last year's worlds, I have been dreaming of this," said Asada, who finished those championships in Tokyo with a silver medal.

Italy's Kostner opened a technically demanding routine to Antonin Dvorak's Dumsky Trio with a superb combination that brought roars from the crowd, but then made errors on several subsequent jumps.

"I was a bit uncertain on some landings, as it was the first time for me to have such responsibility," said Kostner.

"But I managed to get to the end quite well, although I am a bit disappointed about my mistakes."

Korean Kim Yu-na, who stood fifth after the short programe, claimed the bronze with the best free skate of the evening, showing astonishing height to her jumps.

Skating to the soundtrack from the musical Miss Saigon, the Korean turned in a performance only marred by her failure to complete a planned triple Salchow toward the end of her program.

It was not an evening for previous champions.

American Kimmie Meissner, the 2006 world champion, showed her trademark charm and bounce in a skate to Puccini's Nessun Dorma, but fell twice to finish 12th in the free skate and seventh overall.

The American, who has been struggling to recapture her old form, greeted her weak showing with a shrug and a rueful smile.

Defending champion Miki Ando fared worse. After losing her balance on one jump and falling on a second, the Japanese broke off her skate to Bizet's Carmen and formally withdrew, leaving the ice in tears.

Officials later said Ando had suffered an acute trauma to her left leg during the morning practice.

"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," Ando said.

The 2007 world champion had a tough day on Wednesday, finishing eighth in the short skate after a flat performance.

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Reuters