JGP Xi'an: Who will challenge for the Women’s podium?

[gsk8]

The women's event at the ISU Junior Grand Prix in Xi'an features a strong mix of returning Junior Grand Prix competitors, national medalists, and international newcomers.

Skaters to watch:

• Sofiia Dzepka (AIN 2) – Dzepka makes her Junior Grand Prix debut with considerable technical firepower. The Russian has landed quadruple jumps in competition, making her one of the most intriguing skaters in the field.
• Kaoruko Wada (JPN) – The 2024-25 Junior Grand Prix Final silver medalist is the most internationally accomplished Japanese skater in the field. She owns an ISU personal best of 198.22 and won gold and silver at two JGP events during her breakout 2024 season.
• Shuxian Jin (CHN) – One of China's leading junior women, Jin owns an ISU personal best of 189.89, set at the 2024 JGP Wuxi. She also competed on the JGP circuit last season, placing fourth in the free skate at JGP Bangkok.
• Yuxuan Liu (CHN) – One of the biggest wild cards in the event. Liu has attracted attention for her ambitious technical content, including a quadruple Salchow in competition. At just 13, the Chinese skater is making her Junior Grand Prix debut and could make a significant impression on home ice.
• Karin Miyazaki (JPN) – A promising Japanese junior making her Junior Grand Prix debut. Miyazaki has been one of Japan's notable young skaters domestically and will be looking to make an immediate impact on the international stage.
• Jeongyul Hwang (KOR) – One of Korea's more experienced junior women, Hwang returns to the Junior Grand Prix circuit with an ISU personal best of 178.50, set at JGP Bangkok in 2025. She will be looking to challenge for another strong finish.
• Lia Cho (CAN) – The reigning Canadian junior champion is one of the most interesting young skaters in the field. Cho broke her own Canadian junior record with 199.60 at the 2026 Canadian Championships and arrives in Xi'an fresh off a victory at the 2026 Cranberry Cup, where she scored 180.85 in her junior international debut.
• Annika Chao (USA) – The 2026 U.S. junior silver medalist returns for her second Junior Grand Prix season. Chao placed fifth in her lone JGP assignment last season, scoring a personal-best 175.75 at JGP Varese, and will be looking to challenge for her first JGP medal in Xi'an.

Which other skaters should be on the radar, and why? Who are your favorites? Who makes your podium?

Entries as of 8/12/26

Skater	Nation
Varvara STAHOVICH	AIN 1
Sofiia DZEPKA	AIN 2
Andrea PAZOS GUERRA	AND
Kalyn SHIMOGAKI	AUS
Isabella WANG	AUS
Victoria BARAKHTINA	CAN
Chen Xi JIN	CHN
Shuxian JIN	CHN
Yuxuan LIU	CHN
Vasilisa BOGOMOLOVA	CYP
Darya TIMOFEEVA	CZE
Karina SHESTERIKOVA	EST
Ariel GUO	HKG
Candy Lieve Tilana LIM	INA
Jessy Raj MATHRAPU	IND
Izabella KIRILLOVA	ISR
Shaked PINCHAS	ISR
Chiara MINIGHINI	ITA
Karin MIYAZAKI	JPN
Kaoruko WADA	JPN
Zlata SAPRINA	KGZ
Jeongyul HWANG	KOR
Natasa JERMOLICKA	LAT
Milana SINIAVSKYTE	LTU
Violet Zhiyan EE	MAS
Amina DYENISOVNA	MGL
Lucca DIJKHUIZEN	NED
Cara TANG	NZL
Isabella Miel HAZELTON	PHI
Vianna Shen-Rou LINKE	SGP
Pasuree Marcella TATIRAT	THA
Cen Si LAI	TPE
Annika CHAO	USA
Elizaveta GRASHCHENKOVA	UZB

AIN 1 = Skaters affiliated with ISU Members in Belarus
AIN 2 = Skaters affiliated with ISU Members in Russia

 

[lariko]

I think presenting Sophia Dzepka as a primarily technical powerhouse is a mistake, because her main strength is her balletic quality with a rare eye for choreographic detail. People who are sitting there polishing their 'another disposable, bland, pre-pub jumper' posts in advance are in for a surprise because Dzepka is senior-eligible, elegant and in possession of maturity, musicality and artistic quality. Yeah, she can also land a 4T on home ice. But that's not the main reason why she is medaling in Russia. She was stunning as Natasha Rostova last year in War and Peace.

Her programs this season are a classic ballet Raymonda and more conventional Matrix in FS.

Oh, and she has not from Team Tutberidze, just in case anyone is pre-typing that one too.

 

[AlexBreeze]

Dark Horse: Varvara Stahovich



Big consistent triples & great spins

(I couldn't find her skates on YouTube but I did watch events with her)

Generally, Belarus has a lot of promising junior girls now.

 

[labgoat]

I don't see Lio Cho listed for this event

 

[lariko]

I don't see Lio Cho listed for this event

I thought she starts in Bangkok and Barakhtina goes to China.

 

[labgoat]

I thought she starts in Bangkok and Barakhtina goes to China.

That's what I see as well.

 

[gsk8]

I think presenting Sophia Dzepka as a primarily technical powerhouse is a mistake, ...

I actually put: Dzepka makes her Junior Grand Prix debut with considerable technical firepower - not a powerhouse And this is true due to the quad (compared to the rest of the field). But of course, that is in no way minimizing or downplaying her other qualities.

 

[Isk]

Even if Dzepka couldn't do 4T, I'd still be rooting for her to go internationally, as it's the other qualities that set her apart. But of course 4T helps.

 

[DougDorsey]

Her primary quad is her 4T. She has also landed 4S in competition before, but not yet fully clean. I doubt she'll attempt her 4S on the JGP, as she doesn't need it to win. For the same reason, I think she'll stick to one 4T, instead of attempting two, at least here in Xi'an.

Honestly, Sofia can win here without attempting any quads at all, if she really wanted. As long as she's clean, there's no one in Xi'an at her level. She and Hana Bath are poised to be the leaders on the JGP this season, with Mayuko/Sumika/Mei/Lia on the outside looking in until they stabilize their 3As, if that ever happens.

Sofia is only senior-eligible domestically in Russia. She is not eligible for seniors internationally until next season.

 

[DougDorsey]

One additional thing I'll add is that Sofia not needing crazy technical content at this point in her international career is solely due to her being the only Russian on the JGP.

If Russia had a full set of JGP entries, as they should, she would absolutely need this technical content, as she'd be facing rivals like Lena Kostyleva, Vika Streltsova, Alisa Zaikina, Sofya Smagina, Lidia Pleskacheva, and so on. (Almost all of whom have more ultra-cs than she does. Honestly, if Russia had the entries, we'd very likely be looking at an all-Russian JGPF.)

And Sofia will definitely need this content in senior domestic competition in Russia this season, as she will need it in senior international competition next season, at which point Russians will likely have regained most of their assignments, leaving her with plenty of strong rivals.

All of this is to say that there are some weird, one-off dynamics in the sport this season that are solely a function of Russia needing to wait another season until it's restored its entries. I think a lot of people will draw incorrect conclusions this season that will be blown out of the water next season and beyond, because they're overlooking this key fact.