Japanese figure skater Kaori Sakamoto, a three-time world champion, delivered a stellar performance in the short program at the NHK Trophy, positioning herself as a frontrunner to defend her title in what she has announced will be her final appearance at the event.
Having disclosed her retirement plans after the upcoming Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics, Sakamoto showcased her skills to the tune of “Time to Say Goodbye,” executing a flawless routine that included a triple lutz, a double axel, and a triple flip-triple toe loop combination. Her exceptional performance earned her a season-best score of 77.05, establishing a significant lead over the second-place skater, Sofia Samodelkina of Kazakhstan, who scored 67.75. South Korea’s You Young claimed the third spot with 67.66 points.
Despite finishing as the runner-up at this year’s worlds in Boston, following her three consecutive world championship victories, Sakamoto’s competitive spirit remains strong. The 25-year-old athlete also clinched the women’s singles bronze medal at the 2022 Beijing Winter Games.
After securing the second position at the Grand Prix de France last month, Sakamoto entered the NHK Trophy determined to reaffirm her dominance. Reflecting on her performance, she expressed satisfaction, stating, “I managed to overcome my initial nervousness and deliver a solid program. I successfully completed all my jumps and aim to maintain this level in the free skate tomorrow.”
Japan’s Kaori Sakamoto takes an early lead at the NHK Trophy with a score of 77.065 in the women’s short program in Osaka, Japan.
As Japan’s top hopeful for an Olympic medal, Sakamoto faces stiff competition from Russian skater Adeliia Petrosian at the upcoming Winter Olympics in Italy. Petrosian, a 17-year-old prodigy, has dominated the national stage with two consecutive titles and an impressive unbeaten streak over the past two seasons, clinching victory in eight domestic events.
Petrosian secured her Olympic berth by winning the gold medal at the ISU Skate to Milano Figure Skating qualifier held in Beijing in September. Additionally, Loena Hendrickx, the 2024 European Champion, made a comeback to the Grand Prix series after a season-long hiatus due to injury.
During the men’s short program, local favorite Yuma Kagiyama took the lead with a remarkable performance. The 2022 Olympic silver medalist showcased his skills by executing a quad lutz, a quad toe loop-triple toe loop combination, and a triple axel, accumulating a total of 98.58 points.
Reflecting on his performance, Kagiyama expressed satisfaction with his jumps but acknowledged shortcomings in other elements of his routine. His compatriot Shun Sato followed closely in second place with 96.67 points, while South Korea’s Cha Jun-hwan secured the third spot with 91.60 points.
