Gold medalists Polina Shesheleva (3rd L)/Egor Karnaukhov (3rd R) of AIN (Individual Neutral Athlete), silver medalists Chen Yuxuan (1st L)/Dong Yinbo (2nd L) of China and bronze medalists Wang Chenling (2nd R)/Chen Yongzheng of China pose during the awarding ceremony for the junior pairs at ISU Figure Skating Junior Grand Prix Xi'an 2026 in Xi'an, northwest China's Shaanxi Province, Aug. 22, 2026. (Xinhua/Zou Jingyi)
XI'AN, Aug. 22 (Xinhua) -- China's Chen Yuxuan/Dong Yinbo claimed silver and Wang Chenling/Chen Yongzheng took bronze in the junior pairs event as the ISU Figure Skating Junior Grand Prix Xi'an 2026 concluded on Saturday, while Individual Neutral Athletes (AINs) swept all four titles at the event.
In the junior pairs event, Individual Neutral Athletes Polina Shesheleva and Egor Karnaukhov claimed the title with 191.84 points after finishing first in both the short program and free skate.
China's Chen and Dong finished second with 157.52 points, while compatriots Wang and Chen took third with 134.50 points.
Chen Yuxuan said the pair was satisfied with their performance. "The triple throw was completed as we expected, but we still need to improve its quality," she said.
In the junior men's event, Individual Neutral Athlete Lev Lazarev claimed the title with 250.21 points after winning both the short program and free skate. New Zealand's Li Yanhao finished second with 230.89 points, while Japan's Daiya Ebihara took third with 219.76 points.
China's Lu Boren, 18, placed ninth with 194.08 points, followed by 14-year-old Li Zhuolang in 10th with 189.13 points and 15-year-old Xu Minghan in 12th with 179.05 points.
Lu said he was satisfied with his performance despite a mistake during the competition. "Compared with my previous international competitions, I felt much less nervous and more confident this time," Lu said.
China's young skaters made a promising start to the new Olympic cycle at the event, winning two silver and two bronze medals. The junior women's event highlighted China's depth, with three skaters finishing in the top four, while the pairs teams also delivered two podium finishes.
The event also marked the return of Individual Neutral Athletes to the ISU Junior Grand Prix series during the 2026-27 season.
The series will continue with its second stop in Riga, Latvia, from Aug. 27 to 29. ■
Gold medalists Polina Shesheleva (3rd L)/Egor Karnaukhov (3rd R) of AIN (Individual Neutral Athlete), silver medalists Chen Yuxuan (1st L)/Dong Yinbo (2nd L) of China and bronze medalists Wang Chenling (2nd R)/Chen Yongzheng of China pose after the awarding ceremony for the junior pairs at ISU Figure Skating Junior Grand Prix Xi'an 2026 in Xi'an, northwest China's Shaanxi Province, Aug. 22, 2026. (Xinhua/Zou Jingyi)
Gold medalists Polina Shesheleva (C, front)/Egor Karnaukhov (C, back) of AIN (Individual Neutral Athlete), silver medalists Chen Yuxuan (L, front)/Dong Yinbo (L, back) of China and bronze medalists Wang Chenling (R, front)/Chen Yongzheng of China pose during the awarding ceremony for the junior pairs at ISU Figure Skating Junior Grand Prix Xi'an 2026 in Xi'an, northwest China's Shaanxi Province, Aug. 22, 2026. (Xinhua/Zou Jingyi)
Chen Yuxuan (1st L)/Dong Yinbo (1st R) and Wang Chenling (2nd L)/Chen Yongzheng of China celebrate after the junior pairs free skating at ISU Figure Skating Junior Grand Prix Xi'an 2026 in Xi'an, northwest China's Shaanxi Province, Aug. 22, 2026. (Xinhua/Zou Jingyi)
Wang Chenling (R)/Chen Yongzheng of China perform during the junior pairs free skating at ISU Figure Skating Junior Grand Prix Xi'an 2026 in Xi'an, northwest China's Shaanxi Province, Aug. 22, 2026. (Xinhua/Zou Jingyi)
Polina Shesheleva (top)/Egor Karnaukhov of AIN (Individual Neutral Athlete) perform during the junior pairs free skating at ISU Figure Skating Junior Grand Prix Xi'an 2026 in Xi'an, northwest China's Shaanxi Province, Aug. 22, 2026. (Xinhua/Zou Jingyi)
Wang Chenling (L)/Chen Yongzheng of China perform during the junior pairs free skating at ISU Figure Skating Junior Grand Prix Xi'an 2026 in Xi'an, northwest China's Shaanxi Province, Aug. 22, 2026. (Xinhua/Zou Jingyi)
Wang Chenling (L)/Chen Yongzheng of China celebrate after the junior pairs free skating at ISU Figure Skating Junior Grand Prix Xi'an 2026 in Xi'an, northwest China's Shaanxi Province, Aug. 22, 2026. (Xinhua/Zou Jingyi)
Chen Yuxuan (top)/Dong Yinbo of China perform during the junior pairs free skating at ISU Figure Skating Junior Grand Prix Xi'an 2026 in Xi'an, northwest China's Shaanxi Province, Aug. 22, 2026. (Xinhua/Zou Jingyi)
Chen Yuxuan (front)/Dong Yinbo of China perform during the junior pairs free skating at ISU Figure Skating Junior Grand Prix Xi'an 2026 in Xi'an, northwest China's Shaanxi Province, Aug. 22, 2026. (Xinhua/Zou Jingyi)
Wang Chenling (top)/Chen Yongzheng of China perform during the junior pairs free skating at ISU Figure Skating Junior Grand Prix Xi'an 2026 in Xi'an, northwest China's Shaanxi Province, Aug. 22, 2026. (Xinhua/Zou Jingyi)
Wang Chenling (L)/Chen Yongzheng of China perform during the junior pairs free skating at ISU Figure Skating Junior Grand Prix Xi'an 2026 in Xi'an, northwest China's Shaanxi Province, Aug. 22, 2026. (Xinhua/Zou Jingyi)
Chen Yuxuan (top)/Dong Yinbo of China perform during the junior pairs free skating at ISU Figure Skating Junior Grand Prix Xi'an 2026 in Xi'an, northwest China's Shaanxi Province, Aug. 22, 2026. (Xinhua/Zou Jingyi)
Chen Yuxuan (front)/Dong Yinbo of China perform during the junior pairs free skating at ISU Figure Skating Junior Grand Prix Xi'an 2026 in Xi'an, northwest China's Shaanxi Province, Aug. 22, 2026. (Xinhua/Zou Jingyi)
Polina Shesheleva (top)/Egor Karnaukhov of AIN (Individual Neutral Athlete) perform during the junior pairs free skating at ISU Figure Skating Junior Grand Prix Xi'an 2026 in Xi'an, northwest China's Shaanxi Province, Aug. 22, 2026. (Xinhua/Zou Jingyi)
Wang Chenling (L)/Chen Yongzheng of China perform during the junior pairs free skating at ISU Figure Skating Junior Grand Prix Xi'an 2026 in Xi'an, northwest China's Shaanxi Province, Aug. 22, 2026. (Xinhua/Zou Jingyi)
Polina Shesheleva (top)/Egor Karnaukhov of AIN (Individual Neutral Athlete) perform during the junior pairs free skating at ISU Figure Skating Junior Grand Prix Xi'an 2026 in Xi'an, northwest China's Shaanxi Province, Aug. 22, 2026. (Xinhua/Zou Jingyi)
Wang Chenling (L)/Chen Yongzheng of China perform during the junior pairs free skating at ISU Figure Skating Junior Grand Prix Xi'an 2026 in Xi'an, northwest China's Shaanxi Province, Aug. 22, 2026. (Xinhua/Zou Jingyi)
