NHK Trophy 2023: Mihara Mai ready for potentially painful season debut
The Grand Prix Final winner will make her latest-ever start to a season in Osaka, Japan, through right-ankle injury and all.
Figure Skating
Reigning Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final women’s champion Mihara Mai is bracing to fight through the pain on the eve of her ISU season debut at the NHK Trophy on Friday (23 November).
Mihara pulled out of the Cup of China two weeks ago with a right-ankle injury and will be competing for the first time during the 2023-24 campaign this weekend.
At a press conference on Thursday (23 November) in Osaka, Japan, Mihara declined to disclose details of her injury but said she is prepared to skate through any pain she feels, starting with Friday’s short program.
“It will be my first skate of the season and I know I’ll be very nervous, so I have to try to stay calm,” the 24-year-old said following official practice when she skated to her free program tune of ‘Jupiter’.
“I’m nervous now, actually. But I want to be able to enjoy it, perform with a smile on my face.
“The pain started to surface late in the summer. I don’t want to go into details but I aggravated it just before the Cup of China. It was really frustrating and sad.
“But I have been working hard for this competition and no matter how much pain I feel I’m going to skate to the finish.
“I won’t give up. I want to have fun performing in front of the crowd.”
Mihara said she has never started a season so late in her entire career, and is anxious to launch her campaign despite the delayed opening.
If Mihara can perform to anywhere near her potential, she has every chance of stepping on to the podium on Saturday - but that remains to be seen.
“I’ve been skating for 10-plus years and it’s the first time I’m starting a season in late November,” she said.
“I’m looking forward to it because I haven’t shown either program to the fans. I’m excited.
“I couldn’t be happier to be competing at the NHK Trophy.”