Sakamoto, Kagiyama banner Japanese

TOKYO, Japan (AFP) — Three-time world champion Kaori Sakamoto and Beijing Olympics silver medalist Yuma Kagiyama will lead Japan's hunt for Milan-Cortina Games figure skating gold after being named in their country's squad on Sunday.

Pairs world champions Riku Miura and Ryuichi Kihara also made the team despite an injury forcing them to withdraw midway through this weekend's national championships, which also served as Japan's Olympic trials.

Sakamoto, the bronze medalist at the 2022 Beijing Olympics, secured an automatic berth by winning Japan's women's singles title for a sixth time in Tokyo.

The 25-year-old, who will retire at the end of the season, finished with 234.36 points to beat Mao Shimada (228.08) and Mone Chiba (216.24).

Chiba and fourth-placed Ami Nakai were picked for the Olympic team along with Sakamoto, with the 17-year-old Shimada too young to be eligible for selection.

Sakamoto will become the first Japanese women's singles skater to appear at three straight Olympics when the Games begin in February.

"When I was asked after the Beijing Games if I wanted to appear at a third Olympics, I thought that no one had done that before and I wanted to achieve it," she said.

"Then I became world champion and had other experiences that gave me confidence, and I started to think I could do it as long as I didn't slack off."

Sakamoto has had an up-and-down season but she gave a commanding performance with her Olympic spot on the line.

She covered her face and sobbed at the end of her routine and admitted she had been wracked by nerves.

"I had to really battle to win today and I'm going to have to dig deep mentally again," she said.

Chiba and Nakai will appear at the Olympics for the first time.

Kagiyama booked his spot by winning a third successive men's national title on Saturday.

The 22-year-old, who is seen as the closest challenger to American Ilia Malinin for Olympic gold, scored a total of 287.95 points.

Shun Sato was second on 276.75, followed by Kao Miura on 261.18. Both of them also made the Olympic team.

Kagiyama finished a distant second to Malinin at the Grand Prix Final earlier this month despite leading after the short program.

He said his national title was "not the goal, it's just a point along the way."

"I'll be doing all I can in the time I have left to make sure I have no regrets after the Olympics," he said.