Looking to lift their game

In pairs, young partners Zhang Jiaxuan and Huang Yihang, as the only team that met the trials' entry benchmark, put on an elegant, smooth, yet technically less competitive, performance to pass the test, and will represent the host at the Beijing meet in what is historically the most decorated event for Chinese figure skating.

"I think we should just focus on producing our best performance, making sure we deliver our top form (at the Olympic qualifier) and let the result take care of itself," said 23-year-old Huang, who, last week, won the pairs title with his partner Zhang at the Asian Open Trophy in Manila.

"As we mature into the senior ranks, we still need to improve our coordination, synchronization and quality of jumps," said Huang.

Soon, they will have a perfect benchmark against which to measure their progress, with the confirmed return of reigning Olympic champion pair Han Cong and Sui Wenjing to spice things up entering the new season.

Han and Sui, having both indefinitely retired from competitive skating since their home-ice heroics at Beijing 2022, have both announced their return to the rink, motivated by a sense of responsibility to help the national program pull off the tough transition between generations.

Should their younger compatriots earn their country a ticket to Milan as expected next month, Han and Sui are expected to challenge Zhang and Huang at the upcoming domestic Olympic trials to earn a spot at their fourth Olympics.

According to the official ISU program for its 2025-26 figure skating Grand Prix circuit, Han and Sui have signed up for the season's second leg, the Cup of China, in Chongqing in October, and the fourth stop, the NHK Trophy in Osaka in November, to test their form against international rivals old and new.

"Brother Cong and sister Sui have been our idols. I cheered for them and watched them dance to the top of the Beijing 2022 podium from the stands," said Huang.

"Their return is definitely good news for Chinese pairs skating. I believe they will lead by example and carry us all forward together."

In ice dance, Beijing 2022's 12th-placed combo Wang Shiyue and Liu Xinyu finished top among four pairs at this week's trials, their second event since coming back from a yearlong injury layoff, to represent China at the Olympic qualifying meet.