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

[gsk8]

The men's event at the ISU Junior Grand Prix in Xi'an features a fascinating mix of established Junior Grand Prix competitors, national champions, Junior World competitors, and some highly ambitious newcomers. The field also includes several skaters capable of putting significant technical content on the ice.

Skaters to watch:

• Lev Lazarev (AIN 2) – Lazarev won the 2026 Russian Junior Championships with 279.25, a domestic score that included five quadruple jumps in the free skate. His planned content included a 4F, 4Lz, 4S, 4Lz+2A+2A and 4T+3T.
• Patrick Blackwell (USA) – The 2026 U.S. junior champion returns for his third Junior Grand Prix season. Blackwell's ISU personal best of 222.17 came when he finished second at JGP Bangkok in 2025. He also finished second at JGP Czech Skate in 2024.
• Yanhao Li (NZL) – Li became the first skater from New Zealand to win an ISU Junior Grand Prix event and qualify for the JGP Final, accomplishing both in 2024. He has four JGP medals. At the 2026 World Junior Championships, he placed eighth with a season-best 217.58.
• Grayson Long (CAN) – Long set his ISU personal best of 221.71 at JGP Riga in 2025, where he finished second. He recently placed third at the Cranberry Cup (178.53).
• Daiya Ebihara (JPN) – Ebihara set personal bests in all three segments at the 2026 World Junior Championships: 81.53 in the short program, 135.99 in the free skate and 217.52 overall. He has also won two JGP bronze medals (2023-24).
  
  Which other skaters should be on the radar, and why? Who are your favorites? Who makes your podium?

Entries as of 8/14/26

Skater	Nation
Vasil BARAKHOUSKI	AIN 1
Lev LAZAREV	AIN 2
Raul GARCIA SHIBINSKIY	AND
Vinceman CHONG	AUS
Grayson LONG	CAN
Zhuo Lang LI	CHN
Boren LU	CHN
Ming Han XU	CHN
Daniel VERBAT	FRA
Felix Haoyu ZENG	GER
Jiarui LI	HKG
Muhammad Dasha AKBAR	INA
Kyvalya KOPPARAPU	IND
Kirill SHEIKO	ISR
Davide TOMAS	ITA
Daiya EBIHARA	JPN
Hayato OKAZAKI	JPN
Gyujin HWANG	KOR
Yesung KIM	KOR
Ean Ee Yang LAM	MAS
Yanhao LI	NZL
Chawawit JIAMAHASUP	THA
Louie FUKUDA-WU	TPE
Patrick BLACKWELL	USA
Zachary LOPINTO	USA
Samir TEMERGALIN	UZB

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

 

[SnowWhite]

Daiya, Lev, Patrick, Yanhao and Grayson are the ones who stood out to me on the entry list. I'm also interested in Jiarui Li. I remember enjoying his skating last season and he has a pretty good PB (192.63). And I'm also curious about Hayato Okakazi, the 2nd Japanese entry, as well as the two Korean entries, Yesung Kim and Gyujin Hwang.

 

[lariko]

Someone said Blackwell also has 5 quad program in the JGP thread. I have never seen him land 5 in a competiton, but if so, it will be a higher tech event than last year. I assume it is more likely that Blackwell wins, but I would like to see Lazarev podium, because i want him to have 2 stages and a shot at the final.

 

[gsk8]

Someone said Blackwell also has 5 quad program in the JGP thread.

Really? I think his goal is to have three by the end of the season.

 

[Artemisa]

Someone said Blackwell also has 5 quad program in the JGP thread. I have never seen him land 5 in a competiton, but if so, it will be a higher tech event than last year. I assume it is more likely that Blackwell wins, but I would like to see Lazarev podium, because i want him to have 2 stages and a shot at the final.

But he never landed more than 2-3 in a program ... and he isn't great in skating skills ... so my bet is lazarev for the win ..

 

[lariko]

But he never landed more than 2-3 in a program ... and he isn't great in skating skills ... so my bet is lazarev for the win ..

Lazarev never competed internationally, though. I dunno if he is doing test skates next week, I assume not, given the schedule.