Japan took silver in the artistic swimming women's team free combination final Monday at the world championships in Budapest, capping off a successful day of competition for the country.
Siblings Tomoka Sato and Yotaro Sato earlier won silver in the mixed duet technical competition, achieving Japan's best-ever result in the event.
Featuring six members who debuted after last summer's Tokyo Olympics, Japan's 10-woman free combination team earned 93.5667 points to finish behind first-time world champion Ukraine on 95.0333. Italy scored 92.0333 to claim bronze.
Performing its routine "The Haunted House" for the first time, the new-look Japanese team showed enthusiasm and creativity but conceded there was room for improvement, particularly on its lifts.
"Compared to when we execute well, the height was unfortunately a little low," said team member Akane Yanagisawa, who competed at the Tokyo Games.
Head coach Takako Nakajima said her team would be able to iron out the flaws in its routine for the Olympic event.
"They are capable of making the improvements," she said.
Japan's Sato siblings scored 86.5939 points in the mixed duet technical competition won by Italy's Giorgio Minisini and Lucrezia Ruggiero with 89.2685. China's Shi Haoyu and Zhang Yiyao were third with 86.4425.
Japan's previous best result in the mixed duet technical was a bronze medal. It is one of only two artistic swimming events, along with mixed duet free, involving male competitors at the world championships.
Yukiko Inui will pursue a gold medal double in the women's solo free routine after advancing to Wednesday's final with the top preliminary score of 94.5667.
The 31-year-old Inui claimed Japan's first-ever world championship gold in solo artistic swimming on Saturday, when she won the women's solo technical routine.
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Artistic swimming: Sato siblings win mixed duet tech silver at worlds
Artistic swimming: Yukiko Inui wins historic 1st gold for Japan at worlds
