▲ Hwang Jung-yul performing her short program at the ISU Junior Grand Prix 5th Leg
Promising figure skating women's singles skater Hwang Jung-yul (Surigo High School) broke her personal best in the short program at the 2026-2027 International Skating Union (ISU) Figure Skating Junior Grand Prix 5th Leg.
Competing at the Batumi Ice Arena in Batumi, Georgia on the 25th (Korean time), Hwang earned 40.32 points in technical elements (TES), 27.18 points in program components (PCS), and a 1-point deduction for a total of 66.50 points, raising her previous ISU official personal best (63.34 points) by 3.16 points.
Hwang placed 5th in the short program behind Wang Yihan (China, 73.38 points), Kei Yamada (Japan, 69.98 points), Stefania Gladki (France, 67.94 points), and Sofia Shifrin (Israel, 66.67 points).
Having finished her first event in 9th place overall, Hwang has green-lit her chances of entering the top 10 for two consecutive events.
Hwang started smoothly by securing 1.44 points in grade of execution (GOE) on her first jumping element, the triple toe loop-triple toe loop combination jump (worth 8.40 points). She also received 0.71 points in GOE for her subsequent double axel (3.30 points) and executed a flying camel spin at level 4.
She also earned 1.01 points in GOE on her triple lutz (6.49 points) attempted in the bonus point section, and completed her change foot combination spin, step sequence, and layback spin all at level 4.
However, it was unfortunate that she received a 1-point deduction for a "time violation" after failing to finish her performance before the background music ended.
Meanwhile, competing in the men's singles short program, Kim A-ron (Mandeok High School, 56.50 points) and Hwang Kyu-jin (Gyeongseong Middle School, 54.66 points) ranked 17th and 20th respectively, slipping into the middle-to-lower tier.
(Photo: Capture from broadcast screen, Yonhap News)
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