Allegedly there are rules for the selection of the skaters. Given that Kovtun went to WTT for Russia last year without having been to Senior OR Junior Worlds, I think it's evident that the rules aren't followed.
Allegedly there are rules for the selection of the skaters. Given that Kovtun went to WTT for Russia last year without having been to Senior OR Junior Worlds, I think it's evident that the rules aren't followed.
Not to mention Gracie Gold who at that point had competed at two (junior) international competitions only
So in summary:
* - Denotes that they must go (or be penalized in some fashion)
Canada
Mens: Chan*, Reynolds*
Ladies: Osmond*, Lacoste
Pairs: Duhamel/Radford*
Ice Dance: Davis & White*
Japan
Mens: Hanyu*, Takahashi*
Ladies: Asada*, Murakami (maybe Suzuki)
Pairs: ??? (Narumi & Kihara may not be ready by then)
Dance: Reed & Reed
USA
Mens: Aaron, Miner (maybe Abbott)
Ladies: Wagner*, Gold
Pairs: Castelli & Shnapir (maybe Scimeca & Knierim)
Ice Dance: Virtue/Moir*
France
Mens: Joubert*, Amodio
Ladies: Meite, Gilleron-Gorry
Pairs: James & Cipres*
Ice Dance: Pechalat & Bourzat*
Russia
Men: Menshov, Kovtun (maybe Gachniski)
Ladies: Sotnikova*, Lipnitskaia (maybe Leonova)
Pairs: Volosozhar & Trankov*
Dance: Bobrova & Soloviev*
China
Mens: Song, Yan
Ladies: Li*, Zhang
Pairs: Pang & Tong*
Dance: Yu & Wang
Sending Menshov and Kotvun seem like a smart choice - compensation for Menshov and redemption for Kotvun. Lip is not eligible for Worlds this season - is she eligible for this? In any event I think the natural choice would be Sot and Tuk.
For Japan: it will be 90% Mao and Kanako, last year Mao skipped WTT because of Worlds' poor result. I think Russia will send Adelina and Liza, but I would like to see Pogorilaya there, I think that both Radionova and Lipnitskaya are not age-eligible. For USA it will be Wagner and Gold, for sure.For the ladies: I fear Suzuki will be left out and it will be Asada and Murakami to compete (although Mao skipped WTT last season too). China has Li and Zhang. I'd like to see Gao being allowed to skate here, but it will probably be Wagner and Gold.
The russian entries are a little harder to predict, but I guess Sotnikova will be there. Second one might be Lipnitskaya, to give her more experience. I'd like to see Tuktamysheva, but I guess Mishin won't like that.
For Canada, I'd like to see another one of the younger girls, like Daleman, next to Osmond, but maybe it will be Lacoste after all.
Meite will have to go for France, but that second spot...
For Japan: it will be 90% Mao and Kanako, last year Mao skipped WTT because of Worlds' poor result. I think Russia will send Adelina and Liza, but I would like to see Pogorilaya there, I think that both Radionova and Lipnitskaya are not age-eligible. For USA it will be Wagner and Gold, for sure.