Figure skater Hwang Jeong-yul finishes 9th at Junior Grand Prix

South Korean figure skating prospect Hwang Jeong-yul secured a top-10 finish at the ISU Junior Grand Prix Figure Skating event in Xi'an, China, placing ninth overall. Hwang achieved a total score of 165.45 points, with 102.96 points in the free skate and 62.49 points in the short program.

Despite Hwang's solid performance, the event saw Russian athletes, competing under the Authorized Independent Neutral (AIN) status, reclaim dominance in women's singles and ice dance. Sofia Zefka of Russia won the women's singles title with 213.28 points, while the ice dance gold went to Russia's Maria Popleva and Artyom Vlasenko with 162.16 points.

South Korean skaters Hwang Gyu-jin and Kim Ye-seong placed 13th and 16th, respectively, in the men's singles short program. The ice dance pair of Reina Yu and Hanrick Chan finished 15th out of 18 teams. The return of Russian and Belarusian athletes, whose participation in international competitions was suspended in March 2022, was a significant storyline, with their strong performances underscoring their continued strength in the sport.