Former Champions Head the Field After Thursday's Short Programs
The 2026 ISU Junior Grand Prix Riga Cup is off to a compelling start at Volvo sporta centrs in Riga, Latvia, with two former winners of this very event topping their respective short programs. Japan's Mei Okada — the reigning JGP Latvia champion — leads the junior women's singles after Thursday's short program, while compatriot Sena Takahashi, who won the Riga Cup in 2024, heads the men's standings ahead of his free skating on Saturday.
The event, the second of seven stops on the 2026–27 Junior Grand Prix circuit, features all four disciplines: men's singles, women's singles, pairs and ice dance. Women's free skating and pairs free skating take place on Friday, 28 August; men's free skating and the ice dance free dance conclude the competition on Saturday, 29 August.
Women's Short Program: Okada in Control
Competing at the same venue where she lifted the JGP Latvia title twelve months ago, 16-year-old Okada produced a polished short program to score 72.47 points, opening a gap of more than three points on the chasing pack. Australia's Hana Bath is second with 69.06 points and China's Wang Yihan third on 68.61.
The United States' Skylar Lautowa-Peguero claimed fourth place in her JGP debut, posting 67.01 points. Japan's Kei Yamada rounds out the top five at 65.89. Three of the top five skaters after the short program represent Asian nations, setting up a competitive women's free skating later today.
Okada, who trains at the Kinoshita Academy under coaches Mie Hamada and Hiroaki Sato, claimed bronze at last season's Junior Grand Prix Final. She enters today's free skating as the clear favourite to become the first woman to win back-to-back JGP Latvia titles.
Men's Short Program: Takahashi Picks Up Where He Left Off
Sena Takahashi, a four-time JGP medalist born in January 2010, claimed pole position in the men's short program with his skate to East of Eden. He won this title in 2024 and is chasing a second Riga Cup crown two seasons on. Notably, both Japanese short program leaders — Okada in women's and Takahashi in men's — are former Riga Cup champions returning to the same ice where they previously triumphed.
South Korea's Jaekeun Lee — the 2025 Junior World Championships bronze medalist and 2024 JGP Latvia silver medalist — sits second, placing him in a familiar position at this event. Canada's William Chan completes the top three. The men's free skating is scheduled for Saturday, 29 August, giving the full field an extra day to prepare.
Pairs and Ice Dance: China's Chen and Dong in Lead
China's Chen Yuxuan and Dong Yinbo led the junior pairs after their short program skated on Thursday. Their free skating on Friday will decide the pairs podium. The ice dance rhythm dance is also on Friday's schedule, with the free dance completing the program on Saturday.
All sessions stream live on the ISU's official YouTube channel. Results will be posted to the ISU results portal at results.isu.org as each segment concludes.