China - The new force in singles?

[jlai]

Do you think we'll see Yan Han in the world championship? In other words, would the Chinese fed send him?

I think the fed may want Yan Han to "wait his turn", but we may see him in 4cc.

[pinky166]

Do you think we'll see Yan Han in the world championship? In other words, would the Chinese fed send him?

I think the fed may want Yan Han to "wait his turn", but we may see him in 4cc.

If they are smart, they will send him. The scores Nan Song put up all last season pale in comparison, so unless he's improved drastically, the Chinese fed would be stupid to not send Yan Han.

[sharonz]

Do you think we'll see Yan Han in the world championship? In other words, would the Chinese fed send him?

I think the fed may want Yan Han to "wait his turn", but we may see him in 4cc.

I doubt we will see Yan in 4cc, there are competitions in a row for him.
JGPF -> Chinese National Games(4th,Jan) -> YOG (middle of Jan) -> JW
It will be too tired for him to compete for 4cc, especially he may want to save all his energy for JW.

As for worlds, after watching the protocal of Chinese Nationals which held just two weeks ago, I believe Song is the one they want to send. That Song and Wu's PCS having been much higher than Yan's at NC is really ridiculous
But IMO, if Yan keeps delivering big score at JGPF and JW, while Song do not show his strength at GPs (I don't want to see that happen though), Yan will have his chance hopefully.

[mapleleaf]

If they are smart, they will send him. The scores Nan Song put up all last season pale in comparison, so unless he's improved drastically, the Chinese fed would be stupid to not send Yan Han.

Nan Song has a better 3a than Yan and maybe have a 4t this season, but that's it. He is very very slow and his basic skating skills are poor. The spins are also bad. He's going nowhere on world stage.

[pinky166]

Nan Song has a better 3a than Yan and maybe have a 4t this season, but that's it. He is very very slow and his basic skating skills are poor. The spins are also bad. He's going nowhere on world stage.

I agree which is why they should send Yan! Song was able to do well on the junior ranks but has been rather disappointing since becoming senior. In addition to the weaknesses you mentioned, he also seems to have stamina issues, tending to look visibly tired and make jump mistakes at the end of his free programs. And his international PCS are just low, really low for someone who seemed to have so much potential a couple years ago.

[Roxanne]

Is Han Yan old enough to go to Worlds?

[Hedwig]

Yes, he is old enough.

If he continues to skate like this, the Chinese fed would be stupid not to send him!

Why is China suddenly on the rise in singles? In ladies it can be explained with Lu Chen's former coach being back in China. But in men? Who is the wonder-coach here to suddenly produce so many good guys after hardly anyone for the last 15 years?

[Aussie Willy]

Thanks for posting the clip of Zijun Li. She is lovely and I thoroughly enjoyed watching her. I was smiling all the way. Really feels the music (I love the Addams Family soundtrack) and great variation on high and low positions throughout the program. And beautiful open arms that draw you into her performance.

[Seerek]

It'll be interesting to see how the Chinese federation will select the qualifier for the 1 senior Worlds spot in both mens and ladies singles.

They've used a mix of 4CC, Asian Winter Games, World University Games, National Championships to determine who qualifies, but it's been different year.

Example: 2010 - Nan Song finishes 6th at 4CC but Jinlin Guan (who placed 9th at 4CC) gets sent to Worlds
2011 - Nan Song does get to Worlds largely due a 3rd at Asian Winter Games and 2nd at Chinese Nationals, but was the 3rd Chinese finisher at 4CC.

[jlai]

Yes, he is old enough.

If he continues to skate like this, the Chinese fed would be stupid not to send him!

Why is China suddenly on the rise in singles? In ladies it can be explained with Lu Chen's former coach being back in China. But in men? Who is the wonder-coach here to suddenly produce so many good guys after hardly anyone for the last 15 years?

I don't think there's a specific 'cause. YuNa happened despite a non-existent elite skating program in Korea. Considering how big China is, it's a matter of time Chinese find talents and nurture them. Figure skating is exactly the type of sport Chinese should do well anyway--it's skill-oriented and favors the less bulky

[Ziggy]

I can't believe that Boyang Jin wasn't selected for JGP after how well he has skated at the Asian Trophy.

He's the one to look out for, for sure.

China is going to have a lot of success in the singles in the upcoming years, definitely.

Notice how the younger generation can not only jump, but they have MUCH better basics too. I am very impressed by Han Yan's skating skills, for example.

Ice Dance is the only discipline left to be cracked. Having to skate to European rhythms/dances works against them there, though.

[luCN]

Glad to see more chinese skaters have good performaces on the competitions,then we have more chance to see figure skating events on TV.Now,even for the COC,sometimes we only see the pair and women competition,others only on online TV.

Han Yan improve a lot through the years.his idol is Chan,and he's similar to him on skating skills,and...at the same time have the bad side——his 3A is unconsistent- -hope he can improve it in the future...Zijun Li is still too young,I can't hope much from her now.Yuna is her idol.He Zhang's spin is pretty good,his idol is Daisuka and Chan.

Notice how the younger generation can not only jump, but they have MUCH better basics too. I am very impressed by Han Yan's skating skills, for example.

Ice Dance is the only discipline left to be cracked. Having to skate to European rhythms/dances works against them there, though.

yeah,I'm glad they choose this way-training on besic skating skills first,and improve the jumps step by step.not like before,all the attention paid on quads.pay more attention to the aritisty side,and have better programs,better costume,better performance...
I always think Ice Dance need the best skating skills,so it's more difficult for a team which don't have much experience.I think they need more times than the singles to improve...

[Hedwig]

I don't think there's a specific 'cause. YuNa happened despite a non-existent elite skating program in Korea. Considering how big China is, it's a matter of time Chinese find talents and nurture them. Figure skating is exactly the type of sport Chinese should do well anyway--it's skill-oriented and favors the less bulky

But see, that is just it - I can understand one special skater to come out of country that didn't have none (like Korea) or not many before by a mixture of circumstances like in Yu-Na's case a pushing mother etc.

But for sooo many to come out at the same time I do wonder if they somehow changed the system or if a Chinese Viktoria Volchkova suddenly started being a coach or something.

[rouge]

But see, that is just it - I can understand one special skater to come out of country that didn't have none (like Korea) or not many before by a mixture of circumstances like in Yu-Na's case a pushing mother etc.

But for sooo many to come out at the same time I do wonder if they somehow changed the system or if a Chinese Viktoria Volchkova suddenly started being a coach or something.

But for sooo many to come out at the same time I do wonder if they somehow changed the system or if a Chinese Viktoria Volchkova suddenly started being a coach or something.

The girls are training with Mingzhu Li, Lu Chen's former coach. I've also noticed Chengjiang Li was in K&C with the chinese girls in several competitions, so I guess he's in the training group, too.

The boys are training with different coaches. Han Yan and He Zhang are from different provinces. They all love Patrick Chan's skating? That sounds great. It seems that the young skaters do understand what really matters in figure skating. The coaches of young skaters have emphasized more on choreography, too. Do someone know something about Zhang Wei? I really appreaciate his work with S/H and Han Yan.

The sport system in China hasn't changed so much. Hopefully the feds (national and local) would be patient and supportive this time.

[Eris]

The interpretive programs ...

What does it mean?

[Hedwig]

What does it mean?

The show program.

Interesting that they all train with different coaches (the men). Thanks for the info, rouge.
I had wondered if there had been a common denominator like either a common coach or some training camps or a system change or whatever but even better if there are several centres to "produce" such talented skaters.
If you think about it - it is the same in Russia really. Almost never having been strong in ladies they had a short golden period but then regressed again (Nina Petushkova anyone? )and now suddenly they have about 15-20 youngsters that make you forget to swallow. And it isn't just one coach but several. Okay, there is Volchkova who has really made in impact but she isn't by far the only one.

[luCN]

Do someone know something about Zhang Wei? I really appreaciate his work with S/H and Han Yan.

I love Wei Zhang's choreography too.He's a former ice-dancer,he didn't attend much international competitions,but won the Asian Winter Games on 1999 with Rui Wang.he always add something from ice-dance to the programs,so his choreography always feel unique from other pair or single skaters.

[jlai]

But see, that is just it - I can understand one special skater to come out of country that didn't have none (like Korea) or not many before by a mixture of circumstances like in Yu-Na's case a pushing mother etc.

But for sooo many to come out at the same time I do wonder if they somehow changed the system or if a Chinese Viktoria Volchkova suddenly started being a coach or something.

Well, so far it IS one specific skater who came out of the blue--Yan Han.

The ladies program got Li Ming Zhu and Li Chengjiang and they're coming along nicely. The boys are doing nicely but other than Yan Han no one is dominating the JGP. The Chinese program is doing fairly well but it's expected given the number of years they have to get this going. But it's not as if the Chinese kids are dominating the JGP the way the Russian wondergirls are. JMHO, of course

[bek]

Well, so far it IS one specific skater who came out of the blue--Yan Han.

The ladies program got Li Ming Zhu and Li Chengjiang and they're coming along nicely. The boys are doing nicely but other than Yan Han no one is dominating the JGP. The Chinese program is doing fairly well but it's expected given the number of years they have to get this going. But it's not as if the Chinese kids are dominating the JGP the way the Russian wondergirls are. JMHO, of course

It may take time. Honestly have to say though its hard for me to root for the Chinese to do well with the age cheating issues. For awhile in gymnastics I was like well they are good and liked them but I just can't stomach it anymore. But it just became impossible to be that way when you have to see talented kids left behind from some countries, while the Chinese get away with it. And this is in gymnastics, to see this happen in skating...

Now we all have to watch Adelina, Elizaveta, etc all wait their turns and I just don't know if I can stomach watching the Chinese flaunt the rules.

[Ziggy]

But for sooo many to come out at the same time I do wonder if they somehow changed the system or if a Chinese Viktoria Volchkova suddenly started being a coach or something.

They have an organised system with loads of state support. I think it was just a question of time before it brought results.

I love Wei Zhang's choreography too.He's a former ice-dancer,he didn't attend much international competitions,but won the Asian Winter Games on 1999 with Rui Wang.he always add something from ice-dance to the programs,so his choreography always feel unique from other pair or single skaters.

Thanks, I didn't realise that!

Great to see that China got a homegrown choreographer too!

I really hope that Sui/Han keep working with him and aren't sent out to Zueva (already started to happen that).

Well, so far it IS one specific skater who came out of the blue--Yan Han.

The ladies program got Li Ming Zhu and Li Chengjiang and they're coming along nicely. The boys are doing nicely but other than Yan Han no one is dominating the JGP. The Chinese program is doing fairly well but it's expected given the number of years they have to get this going. But it's not as if the Chinese kids are dominating the JGP the way the Russian wondergirls are. JMHO, of course

It's not just Yan Han, there are more.

Nan Song got the silver medal at the JGPF in the previous season.

And there is Boyang Jin who is absolutely amazing for a 13-year old.

Boyang Jin - SP
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JzMtbotbeOk

Boyang Jin - FS
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=go1NVYJ7iqw&