Chinese skating news & social media updates pt. 5, 2023 onwards

[Karen-W]

Sina Visitor System

No Peng/Wang.

Dang.

And I guess that Chock/Bates declined the invitation, so they added Ekaterina Kurakova and, as you noted, FBSoer instead???? Quite the tradeoff, lol.

Also... FBSoer are on the entry list for Denis Ten Memorial the same week. I'd guess they'll choose this instead but we'll have to wait and see...

 

[otisgear]

Peng/Wang are most definitely done now.

 

[Karen-W]

Peng/Wang are most definitely done now.

Apart from social media rumors, do we have any confirmation of this?

Obviously, if they are done, their CoC spot will remain a Chinese host spot because they weren't a seeded/invited team. Any guesses on which team would be next in line for that host spot?

 

[On My Own]

Obviously, if they are done, their CoC spot will remain a Chinese host spot because they weren't a seeded/invited team. Any guesses on which team would be next in line for that host spot?

Zhang/Jia, I would guess.

 

[Karen-W]

Zhang/Jia, I would guess.

They're already assigned as a host spot. CFSA updated & assigned all of their TBD host spots after the Interclub Comp last month.

https://isu.org/docman-documents-links/isu-files/event-documents/figure-skating-4/2024-25/grand-prix-5/entries-9/33866-pairs-5/file

 

[On My Own]

They're already assigned as a host spot. CFSA updated & assigned all of their TBD host spots after the Interclub Comp last month.

https://isu.org/docman-documents-links/isu-files/event-documents/figure-skating-4/2024-25/grand-prix-5/entries-9/33866-pairs-5/file

Huh. Then I really don't know, because I don't even know who can compete in their places. Unless Wang/Zhu stage a miracle recovery, I guess.

 

[otisgear]

Obviously, if they are done, their CoC spot will remain a Chinese host spot because they weren't a seeded/invited team. Any guesses on which team would be next in line for that host spot?

No one. There is no third senior team right now. Only two senior eligible teams competed at COC selection.

 

[On My Own]

So what usually ends up happening in cases like these?

 

[otisgear]

So what usually ends up happening in cases like these?

Just pick someone off the alternates list I guess?

 

[On My Own]

Just pick someone off the alternates list I guess?

That's what I would have thought, but Karen seems to be saying that this spot can't be (easily?) assigned to someone who isn't a Chinese pair - because it was originally assigned to a pair who weren't seeded and weren't invited.

If it's easy to give it to an alt, then there's no problem at all, to my eyes. Just need to announce the split soon.

 

[otisgear]

Just need to announce the split soon.

Don't count on it, I expect them to just quietly remove Peng/Wang from their assignments and that's it. We also didn't get any official announcement when Peng/Jin split. It just came to be known when Peng/Wang became a thing.

 

[On My Own]

Don't count on it, I expect them to just quietly remove Peng/Wang from their assignments and that's it. We also didn't get any official announcement when Peng/Jin split. It just came to be known when Peng/Wang became a thing.

Right - they can still remove Peng/Wang from the entries ASAP, if it'd be enough. That particular thing is in CFSA's control, even if the split is not.

 

[kwanfan1818]

A host can always give back the spot to a skater on the alternates list, just as they can always assign someone else from their own fed to a host spot, if there are eligible skaters. Just like they can, officially, keep injured or broken up skaters on the roster until they’re no longer obligated to replace them, or do what they want, because the ISU will do nothing.

Giving back spots isn’t limited to the initial selection.

 

[Karen-W]

A host can always give back the spot to a skater on the alternates list, just as they can always assign someone else from their own fed to a host spot, if there are eligible skaters. Just like they can, officially, keep injured or broken up skaters on the roster until they’re no longer obligated to replace them, or do what they want, because the ISU will do nothing.

Giving back spots isn’t limited to the initial selection.

Yup.

I would hope the CFSA removes Peng/Wang sooner rather than later. Pairs is the toughest discipline to get GP spots because there are only 48 so there are teams that deserve assignments and it would be pretty junky of the CFSA to keep Peng/Wang on the lists until it's too late to replace them.

All I was saying, with regard to Peng/Wang's CoC spot is that the priority for replacement would be 1) another Chinese team and then, 2) the GP Alternates list.

 

[On My Own]

They should remove Peng/Wang from GP France ASAP. They have time to talk it through with them for CoC because it's the last GP on the list this time.

 

[Karen-W]

They should remove Peng/Wang from GP France ASAP. They have time to talk it through with them for CoC because it's the last GP on the list this time.

Well, there is plenty of time, to be fair, to remove them from both of their GPs, but if they haven't removed them by the weekend before SkAm then the CFSA and Peng/Wang are still broken up then that's when, as a general pairs fan, I'd get pissed at the CFSA for denying another pairs team that spot.

 

[On My Own]

Eh, we'll see. This is the same fed which didn't WD Jin from Skate Canada in 2022 right up until the last second - even though rumours were he and the rest of the team didn't even have a proper training location during that off-season, and were spending their own dime on what they could do on their own. So yeah.

 

[On My Own]

Also, IMO P/W dropping the season is just kind of to me. Like, just do this season for your country？Just two competitions at the very end after you've tried to recover from injury? Seems rather obvious to me, it doesn't even need to be a "China can and should force them because it's a dictatorship" deal for me.

And if I'm feeling like that, I would guess they're going to get cnetz backlash for sure, especially since they've already spent money on program choreography. I'm sure there's a lot of attempts at persuasion and blame game going on behind the scenes, because of that money.

 

[Karen-W]

Eh, we'll see. This is the same fed which didn't WD Jin from Skate Canada in 2022 right up until the last second - even though rumours were he and the rest of the team didn't even have a proper training location during that off-season, and were spending their own dime on what they could do on their own. So yeah.

Yeah, the CFSA doesn't have the best track record on that front, for sure.

The FFSG, on the other hand, is usually pretty good about replacing last minute withdrawals, so even if the CFSA does wait until the week before, as long as the 1st GP Alternate doesn't have any visa challenges, they'll try to extend an invitation.

Also, IMO P/W dropping the season is just kind of to me. Like, just do this season for your country？Just two competitions at the very end after you've tried to recover from injury? Seems rather obvious to me, it doesn't even need to be a "China can and should force them because it's a dictatorship" deal for me.

And if I'm feeling like that, I would guess they're going to get cnetz backlash for sure, especially since they've already spent money on program choreography. I'm sure there's a lot of attempts at persuasion and blame game going on behind the scenes, because of that money.

This whole situation seems very bizarre to me. Do we know what caused the split? Is it something spat between them or was the inter-personal part of their relationship always an issue that would, inevitably, lead to a team breakup?

And, yeah, I can't say I'd blame the CFSA if they're really pissed over the breakup after investing in them as much as they have.

 

[On My Own]

This whole situation seems very bizarre to me. Do we know what caused the split? Is it something spat between them or was the inter-personal part of their relationship always an issue that would, inevitably, lead to a team breakup?

Eh, we won't know for sure. All we know is that they were saying they would go to the Olympics. And now, apparently, they won't.

I'm just posting this much here, because this post from huahua has comments indicating it's true, but nothing about any reason. https://m.weibo.cn/detail/5077439133256263 (and also begging Yang Yongchao to return)

 

[Karen-W]

Eh, we won't know for sure. All we know is that they were saying they would go to the Olympics. And now, apparently, they won't.

Eeesh. If they're out then that definitely affects the ability of China to qualify for the TE. Zhang/Huang are a good team but that's a tough ask to nab one of the 3 spots available at the Olympic qualifier. It would be a lot easier if the CFSA can convince Peng/Wang to compete this season - even if only at Worlds - and earn the spot outright. It can go to any age-eligible Chinese team (like Zhang/Huang) if Peng/Wang are determined to end the partnership but getting the spot is critical.

 

[On My Own]

How costly are the tickets at ST?
nvm found it

 

[On My Own]

WANG YIHAN IN FIRST AFTER THE SP

 

[Kateri]

WANG YIHAN IN FIRST AFTER THE SP

Loved her. I will grudgingly withdraw my griping that she got two JGP events and Shiqi Gao only got one, but I reserve the right to get mad on Shiqi's behalf again, if any of the other girls who took spots do badly.

 

[Karen-W]

Loved her. I will grudgingly withdraw my griping that she got two JGP events and Shiqi Gao only got one, but I reserve the right to get mad on Shiqi's behalf again, if any of the other girls who took spots do badly.

China was only going to have 2 spots except for swooping in to offer to host the 7th GP after France WD. It's unfortunate because it meant that only 1 skater was going to get 2 spots, but it's also China's own doing for skipping Jr Worlds.

 

[Kateri]

China was only going to have 2 spots except for swooping in to offer to host the 7th GP after France WD. It's unfortunate because it meant that only 1 skater was going to get 2 spots, but it's also China's own doing for skipping Jr Worlds.

Ohh, yeah, the other spots are all at the same event, aren't they! OK, OK, fine, I guess I can't be mad at all! Except at the Chinese fed for screwing their spot count.

 

[ajingmarg]

China was only going to have 2 spots except for swooping in to offer to host the 7th GP after France WD. It's unfortunate because it meant that only 1 skater was going to get 2 spots, but it's also China's own doing for skipping Jr Worlds.

They are denied of visa entries to Taiwan.

It's not like China wants to skip it

 

[On My Own]

No，they weren't. There was no evidence whatsoever of that, nor of there being any restriction from Taiwan's side on Chinese athletes.

If this nationalist rumour died any time soon, that'd be great.

 

[Karen-W]

They are denied of visa entries to Taiwan.

It's not like China wants to skip it

No，they weren't. There was no evidence whatsoever of that, nor of there being any restriction from Taiwan's side on Chinese athletes.

If this nationalist rumour died any time soon, that'd be great.

As far as I am aware the only person who publicly commented at the time about having any visa issues is the Chinese photographer Mao Yanzheng. I recall seeing an IG or Xwitter post from Mao asking if anyone could assist as he had already been credentialed by the ISU but was having trouble obtaining a visa. Ultimately, he did not get a visa and did not go to Jr Worlds - which is a shame because I enjoy his photos.

The ISU and the Taiwanese skating federation would have stepped in and worked with the Taiwanese government to ensure visas were issued for any athletes, coaches and CFSA officials. The CFSA never even BOTHERED with entering any Chinese athletes for the competition in the ISU's entry management system - which pretty much debunks any accusations that they were denied visas - the CFSA/Chinese government simply had no intention EVER of sending any skaters to Taiwan for Jr Worlds.

 

[On My Own]

As far as I am aware the only person who publicly commented at the time about having any visa issues is the Chinese photographer Mao Yanzheng. I recall seeing an IG or Xwitter post from Mao asking if anyone could assist as he had already been credentialed by the ISU but was having trouble obtaining a visa.

The ISU and the Taiwanese skating federation would have stepped in and worked with the Taiwanese government to ensure visas were issued for any athletes, coaches and CFSA officials. The CFSA never even BOTHERED with entering any Chinese athletes for the competition in the ISU's entry management system - which pretty much debunks any accusations that they were denied visas - the CFSA/Chinese government simply had no intention EVER of sending any skaters to Taiwan for Jr Worlds.

It is, and given how much ISU has started to pander to CFSA, I really doubt they'd have let them be denied visas. It's an annoying rumour.