- Joined
- Aug 16, 2018
Kawabata was a junior in the 2019-2020 season, so she can't be assigned to a Challenger. You are right about Marin. I can argue she was a World Junior champion (it took until Mao Shimada for another Japanese girl winning Junior Worlds) but that doesn't justify her later assignments. Although, eventually JSF can't turn a blind eye to her results, so at least there's progress on that.In 2019, Marin Honda got a Challenger despite not having produced any medals in the previous season, and placing 15th at the 2018 Nationals. Hosoda, Shiraiwa and Kawabata of the top 10 all got snubbed (Hosoda likely wasn't in the WS, but I bet the other two were).
"and I daresay a recent OG top 6 finisher and team medalist, plus preceding JNats silver medalist" ..... who is returning from injury and a long break, and whose condition is being monitored by JSF, since Wakaba did attend the JSF National Training Camp. At the same camp, Wakaba also said she hasn't decided on her SP (as opposed to Kaori who had a SP but didn't announce). If you are JSF, is that someone you want to send to an early challenger?
Like you said, maybe it's JSF's fault for sending her to compete in CS last year while she was injured. If you think that way, then why would JSF make the same mistake and send Wakaba to an early CS if she's still building back her form and can spend her time training locally to prepare for the GP series? This way, she won't get reinjured needlessly and has more time to prepare for a bigger international competition. What good is judges feedback when you risk your health competing too early?
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