The Junior World Championships in figure skating are set to begin today at 14:00 local time in Tallinn, Estonia, with pairs skaters taking the ice first. The live broadcast will be available on ETV2 and the ERR sports portal, featuring commentary from Anu Säärits and Liina-Grete Lilender. Eighteen pairs are participating, divided into five starting groups, with expectations high for performance among the athletes.

Among the frontrunners are the Chinese pair Guo Rui and Zhang Yiwen, who have shown impressive results, having won the final stage of the Junior Grand Prix series in December. They hold a personal best score of 64.85 points in the short program and a total score of 177.05 points across both programs. Other notable contenders include Canadian duo Ava Kemp and Yohnatan Elizarov, as well as American pair Olivia Flores and Luke Wang, all of whom have also achieved competitive scores leading into this event.

The competition will culminate in the free skating event on Thursday evening, where sixteen pairs will compete for medals. This championship not only highlights the future talents in figure skating but also serves as a significant event in Estonia’s sporting calendar, showcasing the country's capacity to host international competitions.