The International Skating Union has said a plush resembling a DF-61 ballistic rocket seen at a Grand Prix event was \u201cinappropriate\u201d<\/p>\n
The International Skating Union (ISU) has launched an investigation after Chinese ice-dancing pair were filmed with a toy resembling a ballistic rocket during a Grand Prix event, according to the Associated Press.
\nThe incident occurred at the Cup of China on October 25, where TV footage showed Ren Junfei and Xing Jianing sitting with a large soft toy shaped like a Chinese missile labeled \u2018DF-61\u2019 as they waited for their scores in the \u2018kiss and cry\u2019 area. The pair reportedly briefly held up the plush together with their coach before placing it across Xing\u2019s lap.
\nThe DF-61 is a newly unveiled Chinese intercontinental ballistic missile capable of carrying nuclear warheads, with an estimated operational range of 12,000 to 15,000km. The weapon was first showcased during China\u2019s military parade last month marking the 80th anniversary of victory over Japan and the end of World War II, where Beijing presented cutting-edge innovations from its military-industrial complex.<\/p>\n
The International Skating Union has opened an investigation into Chinese ice dancers Ren Junfei and Xin Jianing. During the Grand Prix stage in Chongqing, they were seen in the kiss-and-cry area holding a plush toy designed to resemble a new Chinese ballistic missile capable of\u2026 pic.twitter.com\/OTI5V9meyQ\u2014 Russian Market (@runews) October 28, 2025 <\/p>\n
The skating body told the AP it is aware that \u201can inappropriate soft toy seems to have been among those thrown onto the ice by spectators\u201d and was \u201csubsequently held by the skaters who had just performed.\u201d The ISU said it \u201cwill investigate [the incident] further.\u201d
\nRen and Xing finished eighth, while the ice dance title went to Americans Madison Chock and Evan Bates.
\nMissile-shaped plush toys, including ones modeled on the DF-61, have grown popular online following the parade, with cushions and soft replicas of the missile sold on marketplaces including eBay for about $30.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The International Skating Union has said a plush resembling a DF-61 ballistic rocket seen at a Grand Prix event was \u201cinappropriate\u201d The International Skating Union (ISU) has launched an investigation…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":21419,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"rop_custom_images_group":[],"rop_custom_messages_group":[],"rop_publish_now":"initial","rop_publish_now_accounts":[],"rop_publish_now_history":[],"rop_publish_now_status":"pending","footnotes":""},"categories":[4,6,3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-21418","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-economy","category-environment","category-politics"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t