So, It is quite early to start speculate about this especially since we haven't even seen Sakhanovich and Higuchi yet but I will do it anyway.
Top canditates for the JGPF:
15 points: Tsurskaya, Sotskova, Shiraiwa
13 points: Mihara, Sakamoto, Honda
0 points: Sakhanovich, Higuchi
Other canditates:
11 points: Da Bin Choi
9 points: Fedichkina, Nitaya
0 points: Proklova
At the moment startlists look like this. However, changes are possible of course.
JGP Austria: Sotskova, Mihara, Higuchi, Da Bin Choi
JGP Poland: Tsurskaya, Sakhanovich, Sakamoto, Nitaya
JGP Spain: Fedichkina, Proklova, Honda, Aoki
JGP Croatia: Sakhanovich, Proklova, Higuchi, Shiraiwa
So, how will this play out?
- Tsurskaya and Sotskova will make it if nothing catastrophic happens.
- Mihara will make it if she beats Higuchi and Da Bin Choi and finish at least 2nd in Austria.
- I doubt Sakamoto would make it because Tsurskaya and Sakhanovich will skate at the same event and even if she beats Nitaya and finish 3rd that will not help because 24 points without a win might not be enough for her.
- Sakhanovich should be OK. She should be 2nd in Spain and she should't place any worst than that in Croatia either.
- Fedichkina has a real chance to surprise everyone. That is because she is good enough to win in Spain and 24 points with a win might just be enough for a place at JGPF.
- Higuchi has a tough job ahead. She will face Sotskova and Mihara in Austria and Sakhanovich and Shiraiwa in Croatia. She could make it but I could easily see that she would end up been 3rd in Austria and 2nd in Croatia.
- With a win at Colorado the JGPF spot is Shiraiwa's to lose. Shiraiwa might make it but I could see her been 4th in Croatia in which case she might not make it.
- At the moment things looks pretty good for Honda. She might very well be at least 2nd in Spain which would be enough for her. Although, we haven't seen Proklova yet.
- I doubt that we will see Nitaya, Da Bin Choi or Proklova at the JGPF.
My predictions
Tsurskaya 30 (15+15)
Sotskova 30 (15+15)
Sakhanovich 28 (13+15)
Mihara 26 (13+13)
Honda 26 (13+13)
Fedichkina 24 (9+15)
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Shiraiwa 24 (15+9)
Higuchi 24 (11+13)
Sakamoto 24 (13+11)
Top canditates for the JGPF:
15 points: Tsurskaya, Sotskova, Shiraiwa
13 points: Mihara, Sakamoto, Honda
0 points: Sakhanovich, Higuchi
Other canditates:
11 points: Da Bin Choi
9 points: Fedichkina, Nitaya
0 points: Proklova
At the moment startlists look like this. However, changes are possible of course.
JGP Austria: Sotskova, Mihara, Higuchi, Da Bin Choi
JGP Poland: Tsurskaya, Sakhanovich, Sakamoto, Nitaya
JGP Spain: Fedichkina, Proklova, Honda, Aoki
JGP Croatia: Sakhanovich, Proklova, Higuchi, Shiraiwa
So, how will this play out?
- Tsurskaya and Sotskova will make it if nothing catastrophic happens.
- Mihara will make it if she beats Higuchi and Da Bin Choi and finish at least 2nd in Austria.
- I doubt Sakamoto would make it because Tsurskaya and Sakhanovich will skate at the same event and even if she beats Nitaya and finish 3rd that will not help because 24 points without a win might not be enough for her.
- Sakhanovich should be OK. She should be 2nd in Spain and she should't place any worst than that in Croatia either.
- Fedichkina has a real chance to surprise everyone. That is because she is good enough to win in Spain and 24 points with a win might just be enough for a place at JGPF.
- Higuchi has a tough job ahead. She will face Sotskova and Mihara in Austria and Sakhanovich and Shiraiwa in Croatia. She could make it but I could easily see that she would end up been 3rd in Austria and 2nd in Croatia.
- With a win at Colorado the JGPF spot is Shiraiwa's to lose. Shiraiwa might make it but I could see her been 4th in Croatia in which case she might not make it.
- At the moment things looks pretty good for Honda. She might very well be at least 2nd in Spain which would be enough for her. Although, we haven't seen Proklova yet.
- I doubt that we will see Nitaya, Da Bin Choi or Proklova at the JGPF.
My predictions
Tsurskaya 30 (15+15)
Sotskova 30 (15+15)
Sakhanovich 28 (13+15)
Mihara 26 (13+13)
Honda 26 (13+13)
Fedichkina 24 (9+15)
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Shiraiwa 24 (15+9)
Higuchi 24 (11+13)
Sakamoto 24 (13+11)