Kaori Sakamoto Shines at NHK Trophy with Outstanding Performance

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The NHK Trophy, a prestigious figure skating event held in Osaka, showcased an outstanding performance by Japan’s Kaori Sakamoto during the short program. A three-time world champion, Sakamoto’s recent display emphasized her aim to defend her title in what she has announced will be her final appearance at this competition.

Skating to the emotional piece Time to Say Goodbye, Sakamoto executed a flawless routine, achieving a season-best score of 77.05. This score placed her nearly ten points ahead of her closest competitor, Kazakhstan’s Sofia Samodelkina, who scored 67.75.

South Korea’s You Young followed closely behind in third place with a score of 67.66.

Setting the stage for an Olympic farewell

At 25 years old, Sakamoto possesses an impressive resume, including a bronze medal from the Beijing Winter Olympics and three consecutive world championship titles.

However, her journey has seen both triumphs and challenges; she finished second at the world championships in Boston earlier this year. The NHK Trophy serves as a vital stepping stone as she prepares for her farewell season leading into the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics.

Aiming to reclaim her dominance

After a disappointing second-place finish behind 17-year-old compatriot Ami Nakai at the Grand Prix de France last month, Sakamoto arrived at her home Grand Prix determined to regain her form. “I felt nervous since arriving here, but I managed to channel that energy into a solid performance,” she remarked after her routine.

“Completing all my jumps successfully is a great motivation as I head into the free skate tomorrow.”

Rivalries and Olympic aspirations

Sakamoto’s path to Olympic success may face stiff competition from the likes of Adeliia Petrosian, a rising star from Russia.

At just 17 years old, Petrosian has captured two consecutive national titles and remains unbeaten in domestic events for the past two seasons. Her qualification for the Olympics was secured after winning gold at the ISU Skate to Milano qualifier in Beijing.

Meanwhile, the Grand Prix series welcomed back the European Champion Loena Hendrickx, who made her return after a season plagued by injuries. Although Hendrickx performed well in her first two jumps, a fall on her third, a triple flip, resulted in a fourth-place finish with a score of 62.45. She too has qualified for the Olympics, adding another layer of excitement to the upcoming competitions.

Men’s short program highlights

In the men’s competition, local favorite Yuma Kagiyama showcased his skills, emerging at the top of the leaderboard after his short program. The Olympic silver medalist performed a stunning quad lutz and a quad toe loop-triple toe loop combination, earning a score of 98.58. Despite his strong performance, Kagiyama expressed disappointment over minor errors in his spins and steps.

Promising performances from other competitors

Following Kagiyama was his fellow countryman Shun Sato, who secured second with 96.67 points, while South Korea’s Cha Jun-hwan rounded out the top three with 91.60 points. Kagiyama’s focus remains on perfecting his routine as he looks ahead to the free skate.

Ice dance and pairs competitions

In the ice dance segment, the British duo of Lilah Fear and Lewis Gibson impressed with a rhythm dance score of 81.57, placing them in first. They were closely followed by Charlene Guignard and Marco Fabbri from Italy. The American siblings, Alex and Maia Shibutani, made a notable return to competition after a seven-year hiatus, finishing sixth in their rhythm dance.

In pairs, the Olympic champions, Wenjing Sui and Cong Han from China, delivered a captivating performance to Habanera, achieving a score of 74.63. Sui and Han expressed excitement about their return to competitive skating, viewing this event as just the beginning of their journey.

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