NHK Trophy 2014 - The Last Frontier
The NHK Trophy is the last event of the 2014 Grand Prix Series before the final. As such, it is also one of the most important. There are still 10 empty places for the final in Barcelona which will be filled by Sunday morning. So for a lot of the top skaters competing in Osaka, the goal isn't necessarily the gold medal, but any medal that might give them enough points to travel to Spain in two weeks' time. So let's see what everyone's odds are.
The men have three places left for the final; just enough for the best three contenders here. Everyone's favourite, Yuzuru Hanyu, can't be stopped even by fate, as proved by his determination to skate with a bandaged head at Cup of China, so I'm willing to bet his Grand Prix story doesn't end in Japan. Sergei Voronov is another strong skater who doesn't give up easily. Thirdly, Takahito Mura defeated the European champion last time we saw him, and is very likely to meet him again in the Spaniard's home country.
The ladies have a bit more work on their hands as there are only two spots left for them in the final, but three apparently equal girls fighting for them. Gracie Gold, Satoko Miyahara and Kanako Murakami each have a bronze medal earned with similar scores. The battle for Barcelona then, will be settled in Osaka.
The pairs have three vacancies as well, but at least one of them will be taken by a surprise team. I have no doubt that Meagan Duhamel/Eric Radford and Yuko Kavaguti/Alexader Smirnov will go through, but who will join them? Will it be the silver medalists of Cup of China or someone else entirely?
Finally, the dancers have their own work cut out for them with only two spots left. Kaitlyn Weaver/Andrew Poje will take one. The other one...we'll just have to wait and see.
With the entries for the Grand Prix Final being decided this weekend, you can't miss any of the action in Osaka, Japan. May the best of them win.
The men have three places left for the final; just enough for the best three contenders here. Everyone's favourite, Yuzuru Hanyu, can't be stopped even by fate, as proved by his determination to skate with a bandaged head at Cup of China, so I'm willing to bet his Grand Prix story doesn't end in Japan. Sergei Voronov is another strong skater who doesn't give up easily. Thirdly, Takahito Mura defeated the European champion last time we saw him, and is very likely to meet him again in the Spaniard's home country.
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| The Japanese crowd will be roaring with support for Kanako Murakami Photograph: Kevin Lee/Getty Images Asia |
The ladies have a bit more work on their hands as there are only two spots left for them in the final, but three apparently equal girls fighting for them. Gracie Gold, Satoko Miyahara and Kanako Murakami each have a bronze medal earned with similar scores. The battle for Barcelona then, will be settled in Osaka.
The pairs have three vacancies as well, but at least one of them will be taken by a surprise team. I have no doubt that Meagan Duhamel/Eric Radford and Yuko Kavaguti/Alexader Smirnov will go through, but who will join them? Will it be the silver medalists of Cup of China or someone else entirely?
Finally, the dancers have their own work cut out for them with only two spots left. Kaitlyn Weaver/Andrew Poje will take one. The other one...we'll just have to wait and see.
With the entries for the Grand Prix Final being decided this weekend, you can't miss any of the action in Osaka, Japan. May the best of them win.
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