Olympic figure skating champion Yuzuru Hanyu returns from his latest health setback to defend his world title in Shanghai this week under what Japanese sports officials have labelled "unfathomable pressure".
Japan's 20-year-old pin-up has not been in competition since comfortably defending his Grand Prix Final title in Barcelona in mid-December, two weeks before he underwent surgery for stomach pains.
Hanyu is the only Olympic title-holder and the only defending champion to compete at the World Figure Skating Championships, which are being held in the Chinese commercial hub over four days starting Wednesday.
Last year's Sochi gold medallist returned to training following his operation but has since suffered an ankle sprain, which remains a concern.
"His right ankle is not 100 percent but gradually he's been able to increase his workload in training," said Japan Skating Federation technical director Yoshiko Kobayashi.
Hanyu is making "final preparations" in Japan for the championships, Kobayashi said, adding that the national team was trying to relieve the psychological burden on the young star heading into the tournament.  
"Everyone has high expectations, but he's not completely fit yet and there is unfathomable pressure on him," she said.
"We are just trying to reduce the stress on him."
Hanyu's last visit to Shanghai resulted in him needing stitches in his jaw and staples in his head after he smashed into China's Yan Han during a warm-up at the Cup of China.
The Japanese skater later admitted it was a "near miracle" that he only came away with cranial bruising from November's accident.
As he bids to get his season back on track, Hanyu is facing stiff competition from Spain's Javier Fernandez, who was second in Barcelona and claimed a third successive European title in January.
The Spaniard -- who is Hanyu's training partner under Canadian coach Brian Orser in Toronto -- will desperately be hoping to improve on his two World Championship bronze medals.
Olympic bronze medallist Denis Ten of Kazakhstan will also be seeking to maintain his winning momentum after he stormed to victory at the Four Continents Championships in Seoul last month.
- 'Beat a Russian' -
In the women's event, Russia will be looking to repeat the clean sweep they made at the European championships with the teen trio of Elizaveta Tuktamysheva, Elena Radionova and Anna Pogorilaya.
Tuktamysheva is perhaps carrying most of her country's expectations, given her win at December's continental championships followed by a victory at the Grand Prix Final. The 18-year-old edged Radionova into second at both events.
"This season my skating became more feminine," said Tuktamysheva, who missed the Olympics with a foot injury, adding she had improved her concentration.
"I feel excitement ahead of the every tournament and the World Championships is not an exception."
Ashley Wagner is also in a rich vein of form after winning the US nationals in January, while Satoko Miyahara, Japan's national champion and runner up at the Four Continents, is hoping for a podium finish in Shanghai -- and aiming for a Russian scalp.
"I want to skate with confidence and flawlessly," she said.
"I'm looking to put on a powerful performance. I want to beat one of the Russians."
Canada will be going for a double in the remaining disciplines in Shanghai, with Meagan Duhamel and Eric Radford, and Kaitlyn Weaver and Andrew Poje strong favourites in the pairs and ice dancing respectively.
The skaters won at both the Grand Prix and Four Continents, with Duhamel and Radford claiming two previous world bronze medals and Weaver and Poje finishing second last year.
But Chinese pairs entry Peng Cheng and Zhang Hao will be hoping home support can help them better their second place finish at the Four Continents.
In the ice dancing, France's Gabriella Papadakis and Guillaume Cizeron will be looking for their first World medal after they had a breakthrough season, winning the European championships and finishing third in the Grand Prix Final.
Source: AFP