NAGOYA, Japan, Dec 5 : Two-time world champions Riku Miura and Ryuichi Kihara won the pairs title at the International Skating Union Grand Prix final in front of a home crowd on Friday, edging Italians Sara Conti and Niccolo Macii.

The Japanese duo, who top-scored in Thursday's short program, made an early mistake in their free skate as Kihara momentarily slipped, but finished strongly to get a combined score of 225.21, with Conti and Macii 1.93 points behind.

Kihara was disappointed by Friday's performance and had to be consoled by Miura. But he was surprised and visibly relieved when they won their first Grand Prix title in three years, with the second-best score in the free skate.

"I really want to thank everyone because without all of their support we would never have been able to f

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