Alexander Plushenko earned 13th place in his debut ISU Junior Grand Prix appearance for Azerbaijan in Ankara, scoring 171.65 points overall.

He opened the competition in 16th after the short program, then climbed to 10th in the free skate, delivering six triple jumps that helped lift his total.

The switch to represent Azerbaijan was confirmed in mid‑May, marking his first international outing under the new flag.

Evgeny Plushenko, the two‑time Olympic champion and his father, said predicting results was difficult because the 13‑year‑old is still very young.

Yana Rudkovskaya explained that she urges her son not to take online criticism to heart, noting, “We’ve long been used to people hyping our surname. It’s good that Sasha doesn’t read it,” and added that he inherited his father’s temperament.

The former Olympic champion and the ex‑ice dancer have both been prominent figures in Russian figure skating, and their son’s move abroad has drawn considerable attention.

Azerbaijan hopes the young skater’s performance will raise the profile of its developing figure‑skating program and inspire future athletes.

The 13‑year‑old will continue training for upcoming junior events, aiming to improve his rankings and showcase his growing technical skills.