The all-Japan championship for figure skating was held until the 26th, which also served as the representative selection for the Beijing Olympics.
As a result, Kaori Sakamoto, who will be the second consecutive female single to represent the Beijing Olympics, and Wakaba Higuchi and Mana Kawabe, who will participate for the first time, have been nominated.
On the Beijing stage, you will challenge the "high walls" of the Russians.
Evolution of Russians
In recent years, the evolution of Russian women's singles has not stopped.
He has scored overwhelming points with big tricks such as triple axel and quadruple jump.
The 15-year-old Camilla Wariewa, who just made her senior debut this season, continues to set the world's highest score with her long limbs and stable performance in addition to two types of quadruple jumps and triple Axel.
In addition, there are several talented athletes who can aim for medals at the Olympic Games, such as Anna Shelvakova, who won the world championship last season, and Alexandra Trusova, who jumps multiple quadruple jumps.
Japanese women's singles have been away from medals since Mao Asada won the silver medal at the Vancouver tournament, but in order to win the medal for the first time in three tournaments, it is necessary to overcome this thick Russian barrier.
In addition, even in team competitions aiming for the first medal, it is necessary to reach the top of the world with a women's single.
Further growth for more than a month until the production
Sakamoto, who got the ticket for the Beijing Olympics, got the ticket to Beijing by taking advantage of the high quality of the jump and the perfection of the performance, and Higuchi and Kawabe, the triple Axel, and the features that each player has refined. did.
There is a possibility that the three people who have been nominated as representatives will increase their scores one step further from here.
This season, Sakamoto continued to improve the performance points of jumps, the connection of performances, and the performance composition points that show the expressiveness with each match, and set a new personal best at the All Japan Championship.
In addition, Higuchi has indicated his intention to challenge the triple Axel not only in the free program but also in the short program at the Olympic Games.
In addition, 17-year-old Kawabe also showed strength in the game, such as succeeding in triple Axel at the All Japan Championship, which grew rapidly this season and was selected as a representative.
The remaining one month until the tournament will be a valuable time to promote further growth, how much the three people who feel the growth in each form can build up their own power from here.