Figure skating – NHK Trophy 2025: Italy’s Conti/Macii swoop in to wrest pairs title; Sui/Han third again
Sara Conti and Niccolo Macii from Italy triumphed at the NHK Trophy in Osaka on Saturday, November 8, flipping expectations on their head as they captured the pairs title and secured their spot at next month’s Grand Prix Final in Nagoya. The dynamic duo put on a dazzling performance, achieving a total score of 208.58, narrowly edging out the runners-up, Hungary’s Maria Pavlova and Alexei Sviatchenko, who totaled 207.28.
In a surprising twist, the much-admired Olympic champions, Sui Wenjing and Han Cong, faltered during the free skating segment, plummeting from their original lead in the short program to finish fourth overall at 203.79. Their struggle during the free skate showcased inconsistent lifts, a concern voiced by Han post-competition. “Maybe we need more time to prepare for the next competition,” he remarked, emphasizing the necessity for refinement before heading into the Grand Prix Final.
Conti and Macii, savoring their first NHK Trophy win, expressed their aspirations to enhance their performances over the coming month. “The first step is to go back home after three weeks in Asia,” shared Conti. “We need to have a meeting with our coach Barbara Luoni and the entire team to discuss areas for improvement.” Macii added, “We’re going to focus more on the lifts, and I’m really happy about some of the elements. We need to gain more speed and energy as well.” This dedication will be crucial as they approach the Grand Prix Final.
The NHK Trophy serves as a pivotal event for elite figure skaters to accumulate points toward qualifying for the Grand Prix Final, which is set to take place in December. Conti and Macii’s performance not only placed them on the podium but assured their continuation in the competitive arena leading up to the Olympic Winter Games in Milano Cortina 2026.
As the figure skating season unfolds, all eyes will be on the athletes as they prepare for their next challenges, each hoping to etch their names into the record books of figure skating history.
