KADOMA, Japan – Japan’s Kaori Sakamoto put in a masterful performance to retain the NHK Trophy on Saturday, securing her place in the Grand Prix Final in Nagoya in December.
Yuma Kagiyama, meanwhile, claimed the men’s title for the third straight time in his first Grand Prix series event of the season after narrowly topping compatriot Shun Sato in the men’s event.
The winner of three consecutive world championships through 2024, Sakamoto produced an emphatic free skate to log 150.13 for a season’s best total among all female skaters of 227.18 at Towa Pharmaceutical RACTAB Dome in Osaka Prefecture.
Set to retire after this Olympic season, the 25-year-old oozed class throughout with her jumps, steps as well as artistry to prevail by some margin with Sofia Samodelkina of Kazakhstan second on 200.00 and Belgium’s Loena Hendrickx third on 198.97
“Skating in an international tournament in my home region of Kansai, with many of my close acquaintances watching on, I’m relieved to have put in a good performance,” said the Kobe native, who won bronze at the Beijing Olympics.
Sakamoto settled for second at this season’s Grand Prix series opening event, the Grand Prix de France, but showed what she is made of with her ninth win on the circuit — even overcoming a little mishap.
“I wasn’t as relaxed as yesterday; I was nervous enough to forget taking off my edge case before entering the rink for my six-minute practice,” laughed Sakamoto, who was leading after Friday’s short program.
“I have fewer and fewer competitions left. I want to put in an even better performance at the final and the nationals, get the Olympic ticket and get a good result there.”
Leading by less than 2.00 points from Friday’s short program, Kagiyama failed to land his second free skate jump, a quadruple toe loop, but regrouped to score 188.66 for the segment and 287.24 in total for his seventh win in the series.
“It was far from the perfect version, but I was able to give the best I could at this very moment,” the Beijing Olympics silver medalist said after the fourth Grand Prix series event of the season. “It’s 80 percent frustration. I have room to improve.”
Having comfortably won the Cup of China two weeks ago in the series’ second stop, Sato booked his place in the Grand Prix Final after a flawless free skate earned him a personal best 189.04, steering him to 285.71 overall.
“My biggest goal is to go to the Olympics and win a medal. I’m going to step up my effort from here to fulfill it,” Sato said.
Lukas Britschgi of Switzerland was third on 246.94.
Italy’s Sara Conti and Niccolo Macii won the pairs on 208.58, while Lilah Fear and Lewis Gibson of Britain won the ice dance with 205.88.
AloJapan.com