The 2025 Cup of China World Figure Skating Grand Prix kicked off in Chongqing, with figure skaters from 14 countries and regions competing on ice.

In preparation for the upcoming 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics, Chinese pairs skaters Sui Wenjing and Han Cong, who had been away from competition for over three years, reunited to make their comeback debut. The pair demonstrated excellent coordination, scoring 72.45 points with their short program “Carmen” to temporarily rank third.

During warm-ups, fans in the arena shouted “Welcome back” to cheer them on. Speaking about their return, Han Cong said: “As Chinese athletes, we have the responsibility and mission to compete and continue working hard for our country.” Despite not competing for a long time and facing new rule changes, both expressed their continued love for the ice and their commitment to adapting positively.

In the ice dance rhythm dance competition, American teams took a significant lead, temporarily occupying the top two positions. Chinese pairs Wang Shiyue/Liu Xinyu, Ren Junfei/Xing Jianing, and Xiao Zixi/He Linghao ranked eighth, ninth, and tenth respectively.

In the men’s singles short program, Japanese skater Sato Shun achieved an absolute advantage with 94.13 points, setting a new season best and temporarily ranking first. Popular Chinese skater Jin Boyang also performed well, scoring 86.62 points with flawless high-difficulty jumps to temporarily rank fifth.

In the women’s singles short program, with An Xiangyi recently announcing her withdrawal due to injury, China fielded Zhu Yi and 17-year-old newcomer Zhang Ruiyang. Zhu Yi scored 63.39 points to temporarily rank eighth, while Zhang Ruiyang scored 61.71 points to temporarily rank tenth.

According to the International Skating Union schedule, the season began on October 17 with the Angers event in France. The Cup of China is the second event of the season. This Cup of China also serves as one of the selection competitions for Chinese figure skaters aiming to participate in the Winter Olympics.

2025 Cup of China World Figure Skating Grand Prix

The 2025 Cup of China is an upcoming international figure skating competition scheduled as part of the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating series. It will continue the event’s history, which began in 2003, of being a key qualifying stage where elite skaters earn points toward the Grand Prix Final. The competition will showcase top athletes from around the world in a major Chinese city, as has been the tradition with previous editions.

2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics

The 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics is an upcoming international multi-sport event scheduled to be held in the Italian regions of Lombardy and Veneto. This will be the fourth Olympic Games hosted in Italy, following the 1956 Winter Olympics in Cortina d’Ampezzo and the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin. The event aims to utilize existing and temporary venues across a widespread area, including the historic Alpine resort of Cortina.

Chongqing

Chongqing is a major metropolis in southwestern China, strategically located at the confluence of the Yangtze and Jialing Rivers. Historically, it served as the provisional capital of China during the Second Sino-Japanese War (1937-1945). Today, it is renowned as a sprawling megacity and a vital industrial and economic hub.

Carmen

“Carmen” most famously refers to the opera by Georges Bizet, which premiered in 1875. It tells the tragic story of Carmen, a fiery Gypsy woman in Seville, and her tumultuous romance with the soldier Don José. The opera is based on a novella of the same name by Prosper Mérimée.

International Skating Union

The International Skating Union (ISU), founded in 1892 in the Netherlands, is the oldest governing international winter sports federation. It was established to standardize rules and regulations for the sports of figure skating, speed skating, and synchronized skating. The ISU organizes prestigious international competitions, including the World Championships and the skating events at the Winter Olympics.

Angers event in France

The “Angers event” likely refers to the city of Angers, France, a historic capital of Anjou. It is renowned for the Château d’Angers, a massive 13th-century fortress that houses the famous Apocalypse Tapestry. The city boasts a rich history from Roman times through the Plantagenet dynasty and is a center for the unique Cointreau liqueur.

Cup of China

The Cup of China is an international senior-level figure skating competition and a pivotal event in the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating series. First held in 2003, it was established as one of the six annual Grand Prix events to promote the sport in China and across Asia. The competition typically takes place in cities like Beijing or Chongqing and has been a key platform for launching the careers of many Chinese and international skaters.

Winter Olympics

The Winter Olympics is a major international multi-sport event held every four years, featuring sports practiced on snow and ice. It was first held in 1924 in Chamonix, France, as a complement to the Summer Games, and has since evolved into a global spectacle that showcases athletic excellence and fosters international unity.