If you ask me she was better than Ting Cui, so i don't think it's fair to say that she missed a chance.
Technically Kseniia Sinitsyna had more difficult programs, both SP and FP with all combos in the bonus. GOE wise she has better spins, interesting transitions
in and out, the first 3S is an unexpected entry.
Ting Cui had 2 very frontloaded programs, lots of crossovers to set up elements, little to none transitions. Yes jumps are nice and big but in an empty programs, it's hard for me to understand those +4 and +5 considering the judging criteria for over +3 do require those unexpected entries and difficult transitions.
Components were nonsense, especially in the free program that gap was so stupid. This is what i'd have given:
Skating Skills:
Kseniia Sinitsyna. She has far better edge control and turn quality, better showcase of multidirectional skating. Ting had more speed and better posture but LOTS of 2 foot skating and shallow edges, she almost stumbled during a turn in the free.
Transitions:
Kseniia Sinitsyna. It's all explained above, more difficult transitions, creative entries, spread eagle, less crossovers. Ting's free program was so empty.
Performance/Execution:
Ting Cui or Kseniia Sinitsyna. Ting was more emotionally involved into both performances, Kseniia was a bit stone face in the free. Although some may argue Ting's fell on the 3flip, which should have an impact on the execution, since the fall was certainly not planned and the audience gasped, on the other hand Kseniia didn't fall, and managed to pull out her 3-3 combo at the end of the program (UR but landed), so this depends on how you value a fall in performance (it used to be a rule for decades in figure skating, now judges don't care).
Choreography/Composition:
Kseniia Sinitsyna. While i liked Ting's SP a lot, i want to point out that the two programs from Ting were
extremely samey
in style of music, pattern, movements, concept and mood. Kseniia's SP and FP were on completely different styles with different choreographies and more original patterns.
Interpretation:
Ting Cui. she was more expressive than Kseniia, but like i said i noticed an overwhelming repetition of movements between the two programs. Kseniia's interpretation was better in the SP, free was very much all business.
I encourage you to rewatch both programs.
Ting Cui
SP
FP
Kseniia Sinitsyna
SP
FP
.
. We can't set any results in stone so yes, rules are rules and if some russian girls want to make it to international competitions they must either surpass the ladies in russia or get resourceful, that's life unfortunately.
3. Training in Russia can surely help but doesn't ensure the push the rusfed has for its skaters.
