Provided by OSEN | 2023.03.02 19:28
[OSEN=고성환 기자] Shin Ji-ah (15, Yeongdong Middle School), the “morning star” of Korean women’s figure skating, is close to winning a medal at the International Skating Union (ISU) World Junior Championships for the second year in a row. The gold medal in the event, the first in 17 years since Kim Yuna, is also within reach.
In the women’s single short program at the 2023 ISU Figure Skating World Junior Championships held in Calgary, Canada on the 2nd (hereafter Korean time), Shin received a technical score (TES) of 39.99 points and an art score (PCS) of 31.20 points, ranking second with a total of 71.19 points.
With this, Shin Ji-ah set a new personal best, surpassing her previous short program record (70.41 points) set at the 3rd ISU Figure Skating Junior Grand Prix competition last September.
Shin Ji-ah is challenging to win the gold medal at the World Junior Championships for the first time in 17 years since Yuna Kim, along with two consecutive podiums. She won a silver medal in the women’s singles event last year and became the first Korean player in 16 years since Kim Yu-na (silver in 2005 and gold in 2006) to reach the podium by placing in the top three.
The odds of a come-from-behind victory are good enough. The difference between Jia Shin and Mao Shimada (Japan, 71.78 points), who placed first in the short program, is only 0.59 points. Third place is Nakai Ami (Japan) with 67.28 points.
On this day, Shin Ji-ae performed wonderfully to Michael W. Smith’s music ‘The Giving’. He neatly performed difficult jumps such as triple lutz-triple toe, triple loop, and double axel.
According to the ISU, after the match, Shin Ji-ae said, “I was very nervous, but I tried to be confident. I’m glad it went well.” “After the national competition, I injured my ankle a little, so I took a break for a week. After arriving in Calgary, my practice went well, so I regained my confidence.” said.
Meanwhile, Kim Yoo-jae (14, Pyeongchon Middle School) and Kwon Min-sol (14, Mokdong Middle School), who competed together that day, also took 4th and 6th place, respectively, and won the right to advance to the free skating event given to the top 24 skaters. The women’s single free skating, where the final ranking will be decided, will be held on the morning of the 4th.
[저작권자 @머니투데이, 무단전재 및 재배포 금지]
