Japanese world junior champion Mao Asada earned a spot on the podium on her senior international debut Saturday when she finished runnerup to world champion Irina Slutskaya at the Cup of China.

The 15-year-old Asada, who won four junior international titles in as many appearances last season, came third in the free skate and finished second with a total of 176.60 points in the third event of the Grand Prix series this season.

Slutskaya overwhelmed the field in the free skate to claim the title on 196.12 as the Russian preserved the lead she took after Friday's short program. Japan's Shizuka Arakawa, dethroned by Slutskaya at the world championships in March, took third on 173.60.

"This is a result that I'd never expected to produce before coming onto the ice here," said Asada, who put her hand on the ice in a triple axel attempt for her only major mistake in the long program.