Kataise Takeru Amine wins first Junior Grand Prix at 2022 Baltic Cup
Japanese skater extends lead from short program to win in Gdansk, Poland.
Figure Skating
Kataise Takeru Amine clinched a third win of the season for Japan's men on the ISU Junior Grand Prix (JGP) of Figure Skating circuit on Saturday (8 October).
The 18-year-old dazzled at the Baltic Cup in Gdansk, Poland, only stumbling on one of his jumping elements during his free skate.
His win adds to those of Nakamura Shunsuke at the Courchevel JGP and Yoshioka Nozomu at the Ostrava JGP.
The Shimane native wowed in his free skate with his first two elements, executing a triple Axel-triple toe loop combination and the triple Axel in isolation with strong grade of execution marks from the judges.
He faltered on a double Axel-triple toe loop, the only element of his to receive a negative grade of execution score.
Kataise's 155.18 points received in the free skate gave him a total of 234.24, giving him a margin of victory of just over 11 points from USA's Robert Yampolsky on 223.06.
South Korea's Seo Min-kyu was third.