Sakamoto Kaori threw down a season-best short program to emerge with a 10-point lead in the women’s event at the NHK Trophy on Friday (7 November) in Osaka, closing in on securing a place at next month’s Grand Prix Final.
Sakamoto’s firebrand, mistake-free 77.05 provided her with a comfortable cushion over Sofia Samodelkina of Kazakhstan (67.75) going into the free skating on Saturday.
You Young of the Republic of Korea was third on 67.66 with Belgium’s Loena Hendrickx fourth (62.45) after a fall on her triple flip.
Sakamoto was coming off a second-place finish at the Grand Prix de France three weeks ago, an upset of sorts to fellow Japanese and rising 17-year-old Nakai Ami.
Sakamoto said that result lit a fire in her belly for what is her final career appearance at the NHK Trophy.
The 25-year-old is retiring from competitive skating after the 2025-26 season. The gold medal hopeful for the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026 is hoping to go out with a bang, starting by winning a fifth NHK Trophy on Saturday.
“I couldn’t have been more nervous at official practice today and yesterday, which turned out to be a good thing for the competition itself,” Sakamoto said. “I was happy with my jumps and it’s a load off the shoulders.
“Once competition started today, I felt like I usually do in practise and felt sharp physically. Once I felt like I was on, I got into a nice groove.”
AloJapan.com