Shin Ji-ah (15, Yeongdong Middle School), the “morning star” of Korean figure skating women’s singles, placed second in the short program at the International Skating Union (ISU) World Junior Championships, revealing her medal prospects for the second year in a row.
In the women’s single short program at the 2023 ISU Figure Skating World Junior Championships held in Calgary, Canada on the 2nd (Korean time), Shin Ji-ah received a total of 71.19 points with a technical score (TES) of 39.99 points and an art score (PCS) of 31.20 points, and placed second.
This is a record that surpasses his own short program record (70.41 points) set at the 3rd ISU Figure Skating Junior Grand Prix competition in September last year.
Shin Ji-ah won a silver medal in the women’s singles event last year, the first Korean player to reach the podium in 16 years since Kim Yu-na (2005 silver medal, 2006 gold medal).
Aiming for a second consecutive prize this year, she is also challenging to win the gold medal at the World Junior Championships, the first in 17 years since Kim Yu-na. She is only 0.59 points behind Mao Shimada (Japan, 71.78 points), who placed first in the short program.
Shin Ji-ah, who confidently won the championship by beating all her sisters in the 1st and 2nd rounds of the national figure skating competition for the 2023-2024 season and showed fierce growth this season, continued her acting without hesitation.
Following the first jump task, the triple lutz-triple toe loop combination jump, the double axel was neatly digested, and the flying camel spin was handled at the highest level of 4.
He performed a triple loop jump in the second half with 10% bonus, and finished the performance with a step sequence (level 4), change foot combination spin (level 4), and layback spin (level 3).
Shin Ji-ah said through her management All That Sports following the game, “I tend to be very nervous in the short program, so I tried to do it with confidence, but I’m proud that it went well as planned. I’m really happy that I got the best score among the competitions I participated in this season.” He expressed his feelings.
“As much as I prepared hard for the free skating, I will try to put on a satisfactory game,” he promised.
Kim Yu-jae (Pyeongchon Middle School) and Kwon Min-sol (Mokdong Middle School), who competed together that day, took 4th and 6th place, respectively, and won the right to advance to the free skating event given to the top 24 short program skaters.
The women’s single free skating, where the final ranking will be decided, will be held at 9:45 am on the 4th in Korea time.
/yunhap news
Giho Ilbo – Morning newspaper, KIHOILBO
