Wakaba Higuchi Places 2nd at Cup of China

From November 3 – 5, this year’s edition of Cup of China took place in Beijing. This was the third event in the International Skating Union’s 2017 – 2018 Grand Prix Series. Wakaba Higuchi came in second at this event, making her the only entry out of Japan’s four at this event to medal.

Wakaba came in second place with a total score of 212.52, 1.36 points behind Russia’s Alina Zagitova. Wakaba’s short program received a score of 70.53, putting her in second place behind Canada’s Gabrielle Daleman, whose short program received a score of 70.65. “Overall I was able to skate well. I was able to focus on my performance,” Wakaba said. “I am happy that I was able to get more than 70 points. If I hadn’t made some small mistakes on my spins and steps, I would have scored even more. There is still the free skate so I am going to try and not think about it.”

Wakaba’s free skate received a score of 141.99, putting her in second place behind Alina, whose free skate received a score of 144.44. “I was so happy the moment I finished as I knew I’d completed my performance without making any mistakes.” Wakaba continued, adding, “I looked at the score and saw (the margin) between first and second was only a little over a point and that was really frustrating. (But) I was able to put everything out there that I have been doing in practice.”

Mai Mihara came in fourth place with a total score of 206.07, missing third place to Russia’s Elena Radionova by 0.75 points. After the free skate, Mai said, “I got a really high score looking at the way I skated today. I was a little down after the short program but (today) I was able to control my emotions well.”

Marin Honda came in fifth place with a total score of 198.32. “I am not satisfied but it was good that I was able to keep my mistakes to a minimum,” she said after the free skate. “I feel like I have regained my confidence.”

Keiji Tanaka came in seventh place with a total score of 247.17.

This coming weekend sees Yuzuru Hanyu, Hiroaki Sato, Kazuki Tomono, Rika Hongo, Satoko Miyahara, Yuna Shiraiwa, Sumire Suto & Francis Boudreau-Audet, Miu Suzaki & Ryuichi Kihara, Misato Komatsubara & Timothy Koleto, and Kana Muramoto & Chris Reed taking the ice at NHK Trophy in Osaka.

Wakaba Higuchi

Short program