Figure skater Mao Asada 50-50 on retirement

Japanese figure skater Mao Asada says there is a 50-50 chance she will continue her career after an impressive performance in the free skate at the Sochi Olympics.

Asada fell on her trademark triple axel to finish a disappointing 16th after the short program in Sochi but came back strongly in the free skate, recording a career best of 142.71 that gave her a total of 198.22 points for sixth place.

Japanese media reported Asada would retire after Sochi but the 23-year-old skater said she may continue skating after next month's world championships in Saitama, Japan.

Asada said she did not regret attempting the difficult triple axel in Sochi and took a lighthearted jab at former Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori, who criticized her for falling.