BEIJING -- Three-time world champion Mao Asada won the Cup of China on Saturday, completing a successful return to the Grand Prix series after taking a year off.

The Japanese skater led after the short program and was third in Saturday's free skate to finish with 197.48 points, edging out compatriot Rika Hongo who was second with 195.76. World championship bronze medallist Yelena Radionova of Russia was third with 184.28.

As she did in the short program, Asada opened with her trademark triple Axel but fell on the second half of a triple flip-triple loop combination. She landed forward on a triple Lutz and was penalized for a late start.

"I wasn't satisfied today," Asada said. "I feel like there are areas that need working on in the free program but I have taken one step toward the Grand Prix Final (in December)."

Lubov Iliushechkina and Dylan Moscovitch of Toronto were seventh in a pairs event won by Russia's Yuko Kavaguti and Alexander Smirnov. Vanessa Grenier of Johnville, Que., and Maxime Deschamps of Vaudreuil-Dorion, Que., were eighth. Elladj Balde of Pierrefonds, Que., was 11th in men's singles.

Asada, the 2010 Olympic silver medallist , took a year off from competitive skating but announced in May she would make a comeback. She will next skate in front of home fans at the NHK Trophy starting on Nov. 27 in Nagano.

Iliushechkina and Moscovitch were competing at their first Grand Prix together since they paired up last season.

"It wasn't the skates we were hoping for," Moscovitch said. "But it is just the beginning of the season and there is still a lot of work to be done. Today we upped our speed and our twist in the short was definitely a step up. We just need to get more mileage in."

World champion Javier Fernandez of Spain won the men's event with 270.55 points, comfortably ahead of China's Boyang Jin, who was second with 261.23. Han Yan, also of China, was third with 230.33.

Fernandez, who was first after the short program, executed a quad loop to start his routine.

Balde said his training has been affected by a flu bug since he won the Nebelhorn Trophy in Germany last month.

"It was a difficult evening but better than the short (program)," Balde said. "But I couldn't get any rhythm in my training since my victory. I was happy to come back here but you could see today in the second half of my free skate, the fatigue starting to set it."

Anna Cappellini and Luca Lanotte of Italy won the ice dance event, finishing first in the free dance for 173.30 points. Madison Chock and Evan Bates of the United States were second with 169.16 followed by Elena Ilinykh and Ruslan Zhiganshin of Russia with 159.00.

The Grand Prix circuit now heads to Bordeaux, France for the Trophee Eric Bompard, where the men's field will include Toronto's Patrick Chan.