Cup of China preview: Uno Shoma makes season debut, Loena Hendrickx eyes Grand Prix sweep
The fourth Grand Prix of the figure skating season is set for this weekend (10-12 November) in Chongqing, with two-time and reigning world champ Uno making his competitive debut for 2023-24.
Figure Skating
Two-time and reigning world figure skating champion Uno Shoma is set for his 2023-24 competitive debut this weekend at the Cup of China (10-12 November).
The star Japanese skater performed in the gala of the Japan Open last month, but has not set skate on ice for an official event since he captured his second world title in March in Saitama, Japan.
He headlines the action in Chongqing, People's Republic of China, where the fourth Grand Prix of the season will further shape the Grand Prix Final field, which is set for Beijing in December.
Two-time world medallist Loena Hendrickx will look to secure her spot at the GPF after the Belgian claimed the Skate America title in week one of the Grand Prix Series. She and Uno share the favourite status in their respective fields, but it will be an intriguing weekend in singles, with Skate Canada winner Yamamoto Sota and Grand Prix de France champ Adam Siao Him Fa looking to upset Uno.
Hendrickx will find challenges from Kim Yelim of the Republic of Korea, Canada's Madeline Schizas and Ekaterina Kurakova of Poland - among others.
See a full preview of the action, find the schedule and how to watch Cup of China below.
Cup of China 2023: Uno Shoma eyes 9th GP title
All eyes will be on Uno after an ankle injury cut short his 2023 season, the 25-year-old withdrawing from the season-ending World Team Trophy in April.
He enters Cup of China having not finished off the top of the podium at any international event since Beijing 2022, when he won the Olympic bronze medal.
He's set to compete two new programs: His Everything Everywhere All at Once short (choreographed by coach Stephane Lambiel) and a "Timelapse"/"Spiegel im Spiegel" free skate, choreographed by Miyamoto Kenji.
"I think he's very smart and focusing on what he wants, what he needs in order to improve his skating technically or artistically," Lambiel told Olympics.com last month. "He's very aware and he works really hard for what he wants."
Joining Uno is both countryman Yamamoto and Siao Him Fa, who are looking to carry the momentum from their respective GP wins to start the season. Home hope Jin Boyang of China also features in a men's field that includes Uno's teammate Tomono Kazuki, Mikhail Shaidorov of Kazakhstan and Americans Jimmy Ma and Lucas Broussard, the latter making his senior GP debut.
Grand Prix Final champion Mihara Mai has withdrawn due to an ankle injury, though Japanese skaters Watanabe Rinka and Yoshida Hana will look to challenge Hendrickx. Estonia's Niina Petrokina and Audrey Shin (USA) are also set to skate.
"Last season I wanted to prove myself... I put too much pressure on myself," Hendrickx said in a recent interview. "We've really worked on my mental health. I can skate again with joy and be free on the ice. That's why I wanted to skate this season: With more joy and no expectations."
In pairs, Deanna Stellato-Dudek and Maxime Deschamps of Canada look to carry their season-high score (214.64) from Skate Canada against the Skate America champs Annika Hocke and Robert Kunkel of Germany. They are joined by the new Chinese duo of Cheng Peng and Lei Wang as well as Italy's Rebecca Ghilardi and Filippo Ambrosini.
In ice dance, Piper Gilles and Paul Poirier will look for a GP season sweep after winning their fourth career Skate Canada title two weeks ago.
Cup of China 2023: Schedule
All times listed are local Chongqing, China, time (China Standard Time GMT +8). See a full schedule here.
Friday, 10 November
15:30 - Ice dance rhythm dance
17:10 - Women's short program
19:00 - Men's short program
20:50 - Pairs short program
Saturday, 11 November
14:30 - Ice dance free dance
16:30 - Women's free skate
18:40 - Men's free skate
21:00 - Pairs free skate
Sunday, 12 November
14:30 - Exhibition gala
Cup of China 2023: How to watch live
American fans can catch the action via livestream on Peacock throughout the weekend. NBC will host a recap show at 15:00 ET on Sunday (12 November).
See the full U.S. broadcast schedule here. Canadians can watch on CBC and its subsequent platforms.
For international fans, the ISU provides a "where to watch" page here. Some regions may be geo-restricted when it comes to availability.