Harbin, China, August 16, 2025: Looking good on ice matters and with this in mind Viktoriya Vagapova, 15, painstakingly braids her golden locks before a figure skating competition.
“It took me three hours to braid my hair before the Uzbekistan Junior National Championships. I did it because the braids fit my programme and dress I wore, and it felt good. I went on and won the event,” smiles Viktoriya.
Along with compatriot Arina Neskoromnikh, 13, the duo represented Uzbekistan at the OCA-ISU-CAIC Asian Figure Skating Youth Camp in Harbin, now in its last stretch with the nine-day development programme ending on Monday, August 18.
At the outset, Vikrotiya had her hair braided, but now maintaining it is too much of a task especially with the busy schedule the 47 children from the 20 Asian countries and regions face every day.
“The Nationals back home were just a couple of days before I left Tashkent for Harbin. I was happy to win and become the champion, but I have a long way to go and this camp is hugely beneficial in that regard,” says Viktoriya.
Arina, who finished second in the advanced novice competition at the Nationals, and Viktoriya are hopefully the forerunners of a figure skating revolution in Uzbekistan.
The country still has failed to make its mark internationally – having never reached the podium at the Olympics, or even the Asian Winter Games.
“Hopefully they will be successful in the future and become the role models we need for this sport to catch on,” says Uzbek coach Ekaterina Malinovskaya. “Both Viktoriya and Arina have promise and we are happy we came to this camp as all of us are learning a lot.”
A total of 25 coaches are also part of this programme as the OCA pushes for the development of winter sports across the continent.
“In Uzbekistan, ice hockey is the most popular winter sport. But skating is slowly making progress and who knows, one day, Viktoriya will be able to reach the pinnacle,” added Malinovskaya.
