Youngsters make history for China and New Zealand at ISU Junior Grand Prix in Bangkok

Bangkok, Thailand

 

The Juniors never cease to amaze! At the third event of the  ISU Junior Grand Prix of Figure Skating Series 2024/25 in Bangkok (THA) September 12-14 the young stars lit up the ice with their spectacular performances. On top of that, Yihan Wang (CHN) and Yanhao Li (NZL) made history, becoming the first Chinese female single skater and the first New Zealand skater respectively to win an ISU Junior Grand Prix event. Ice Dance Champions Noemi Tali/Noah Lafornara (ITA) are the first skaters this season to qualify for the Junior Final.

Wang paints it gold for China

Yihan Wang set a new milestone for Chinese Figure Skating. While the Chinese Pairs and Men have seen success on the Junior circuit, China's women had yet to win a JGP title. Zijun Li was the last to medal on the JGP, but that was back in 2011.

Wang started her quest for gold with a clean Short Program to “Paint It Black”. In the Free Skating she didn’t paint it black but gold, winning the segment with another flawless performance to “The Grandmaster” soundtrack that included seven triple jumps. The 14-year-old set new personal best scores and totaled 194.71 points. The gold was her first medal on the JGP after coming 12th in JGP Hungary and 4th at JGP Poland last season.

Yihan Wang won China's first Women's Junior Grand Prix gold with two flawless performances that set a personal best. @ISU

“I feel very happy and surprised,” Wang said. “I didn’t think I could win. I just wanted to have a clean program and do my best. I have the medal and I’m very excited.”

Yo Takagi (JPN) shone to claim the silver medal, her second silver on the circuit since her debut a year ago. The Japanese Skater turned in two solid performances and masterfully interpreted Preludes by Frederic Chopin in her Free Skating (188.54 points). The bronze went to newcomer Mei Okada (JPN) who debuted on the ISU JGP (175.96 points).

The Women's Podium at JGP Bangkok

Japanese skaters Yo Takagi (left) and debutant Mei Okada (right) joined Wang on the podium in Bangkok. @ISU

Hot favorite Jia Shin (KOR), a three-time World Junior silver medalist, struggled with some jumps and finished fourth (173.99 points). She will have to fight at her second event if she still wants to make the Junior Final.

Supreme Li earns place in history

Yanhao Li made Figure Skating history for New Zealand, becoming the first skater to win an ISU event for his country. The 16-year-old started strongly, taking the lead with an excellent Short Program to “Supreme”.

He followed up with a strong Free Skate to “Earned It” and “Funny” that was highlighted by solid triple jumps including the triple Axel and difficult spins. And earn it he did, with two personal best scores that added up to 230.09 points, the gold medal and a good shot at making the Junior Final in his next event.

Yanhao Li NZL ISU Junior Grand Prix of Figure Skating Bangkok Sept 24

Yanhao Li won New Zealand's first ever ISU gold medal and hopes to inspire more upcoming skaters in the country. @ISU

“I feel very excited. The experience here was very worth it,” Li commented. “This is definitely an inspiration to all the skaters in New Zealand. Currently we have a lot of upcoming skaters so I feel like this could be a way to inspire them to improve and to aim higher.”

As he led following the Short Program, Li had to skate last in the Free Skating.

“I really hate skating last, this is really [making me] nervous but I think I was able to handle the pressure and skate a satisfactory performance,” he noted.

Reigning ISU World Junior silver medalist Rio Nakata (JPN) settled for the silver. His Short Program was solid, but he did a triple toe-double toe for his combination. The Japanese Skater went for a quad Salchow in his entertaining “Pirates of the Caribbean” program, but it was not clean. Nakato singled an Axel, but rallied to land a triple Axel-Euler-triple Salchow and for more triples (218.71 points). Tonghe Tian (CHN) captured the bronze, his first JGP medal (210.39 points). 

Men Podium at JGP Bangkok Sept 24

World Junior silver medalist Rio Nakata (left) took second place with China's Tonghe Tian (right) capturing bronze. @ISU

Noemi Tali/Noah Lafornara (ITA) book place in Grenoble final

Following their win in Riga, Noemi Tali/Noah Lafornara (ITA) travelled to Bangkok as favorites and once again delivered captivating performances that lifted them to the top of the podium. The Italian team danced to the lead with their Bee Gees Rhythm Dance before their romantic “Love Story” Free Dance was well received by the audience and the judges.

Tali/Lafornara picked up new personal best scores in both segments for a total of 169,47 points. On top of that, the dancers are the first Skaters to qualify for the Junior Final in Grenoble (FRA) in December.

Tali/Laforarna ITA ISU Junior Grand Prix of Figure Skating Bangkok 2024

Noemi Tali/Noah Lafornara (ITA) booked their place in December's Junior Grand Prix final with their second win of the season. @ISU

“We’re definitely very happy with the outcome. The short (RD) felt much better than Riga. Our goal was to come here and to improve on our performances from two weeks ago. So seeing that pay of was a really good feeling,” Lafornara shared.

The Free Dance was more stressful for the couple.

“During the warm up, we had a kind of accident with another couple. I got injured and my ankle was a bit sliced open and it hurt quite a bit,” Tali explained. “We were kind of scared and stressed but I got medical support.”

The new team of Hana Maria Aboian/Daniil Veselukhin (USA) stormed on to the podium in their very first ISU JGP event. They shone in their Rhythm Dance to “Heart of Glass” and “Knock on Wood” as well as in their sophisticated Free Dance to music by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (160.12 points).

Elliana Peal/Ethan Peal (USA) earned the bronze, their third medal on the circuit after a silver and a bronze last year.

Ice dance Podium JGP Bangkok Sep 24

Debutants Aboian/Veselukhin (USA, left) took silver in their first JGP event, fellow Americans Elliana and Ethan Peal (right) taking bronze. @ISU

A total of 83 Skaters/Couples from 31 countries competed in Bangkok. You can re-live all the action and the winners’ interviews at the ISU YouTube channel. Tune in again when the series continues with the fourth event in Ankara (TUR) next week.

Follow the ISU Junior Grand Prix events:

The schedules of each ISU Junior Grand Prix of Figure Skating event are available below:

 

The ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final:

 

Where to Watch?

The ISU Junior Grand Prix of Figure Skating events will be live streamed on the official ISU YouTube channel in most countries.

 

How do skaters qualify for the ISU Junior Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final?

Skaters compete in a maximum of two events and collect points. The top six Single Skaters, Pairs and Ice Dance Couples will then qualify for the ISU Junior Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final in Grenoble (FRA) December 5-8, 2024, where they will be competing for the final JGP title.

Check out the ISU Junior Grand Prix Standings to find out who is on their way to qualify for the Final:

Men      Women            Pair Skating      Ice Dance

 

More information

Full entry lists, results, the General Announcement and further information are available on the ISU Junior Grand Prix of Figure Skating Series page.

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