Relieved Uno still number one despite tumble

SAITAMA, Japan — Japan's Shoma Uno said he felt "relief" after shrugging off mental doubts and injury to retain his world figure skating title in front of an adoring home crowd on Saturday.

Uno held off a challenge from American teenager Ilia Malinin — who became the first skater ever to land a quadruple axel at a world championships — to claim gold in Saitama, north of Tokyo.

Uno went into the competition anxious about his jumps after twisting an ankle in practice one week earlier, then injuring it again on the eve of the short program.