Russia's Yuko Kavaguti is kissed by compatriot Alexander Smirnov (R) after their performance during the pairs free skating event at the ISU World Figure Skating Championships in Moscow April 28, 2011.  [Photo/Agencies]

MOSCOW - Japanese-born Russian skater Yuko Kavaguti fell agonisingly short of a dream medal at the world figure skating championships on Thursday after taking a fall during the decisive pairs free skating programme.

Skating with long time Russian partner Alexander Smirnov, Kavaguti finished in fourth place, just behind bronze medallists Qing Pang and Jian Tong of China and one place off what would have delivered an emotional medal for Russian and Japanese skating fans alike.

Kavaguti, who took Russian citizenship two years ago, had said she did not feel much like skating in the wake of last month's Japanese earthquake, which led to the event being moved to her adopted nation from her birth country. 

A near full crowd at the Khodynka Ice Palace on Wednesday had observed a period of silence in memory of the 28,000 people missing or dead following the 9.0 magnitude quake, and Japanese skaters earned a volume of applause second only to Russians as they took to the ice.

Kavaguti and Smirnov, who won bronze together at the last two tournaments, would have been popular medallists but were underminded during the free skating by Kavaguti's shock fall.

Having been hurled into the air by Smirnov during the second half of their dance to Dubussy's Claire de Lune, the diminutive Kavaguti failed to recover from a triple mid-air spin and tumbled to the ice.

"We just didn't feel each other at that moment, unlike during the rest of the routine," she told Reuters, declining to blame either member of the duo for the mistake.

She insisted she had felt no extra pressure despite the events in her homeland and the tournament's subsequent move.

"It's just the world championships. Every championships are the same," the 29-year-old said.

Forgot to Focus

The Russian duo still managed to improve their position from fifth overnight, recovering from a Wednesday fall from Smirnov that the man nicknamed Tarzan said was entirely his fault.

"I got carried away by the emotions in the programme and I forgot to focus on my feet and so it was my fault," Smirnov told reporters.

Pang and Tong, who had lead overnight, were overhauled during the free skate by eventual victors and last year's silver medal winners, Germany's Aliona Savchenko and Robin Szolkowy.

Russian pair Tatiania Volosozhar and Maxim Trankov delighted the home crowd in finishing second, receiving the biggest cheers of the night during a near flawless performance to Sergei Prokofiev's Romeo and Juliet.