Former world champion Miki Ando will make her competitive return to the rink at the Nebelhorn Trophy in Oberstdorf, Germany, Sept. 25-28 after she was named to the field Tuesday by the German Ice Skating Union.
Ando, who gave birth to a baby girl in April, did not compete last season, having been without a coach since breaking up with Nikolai Morozov after winning the 2011 world championships.
The 25-year-old has been taken off the Japan Skating Federation's roster of skaters sent to overseas events to strengthen, but she had been exploring the possibility of appearing through an invitation from the International Skating Union.
Ando is aiming to trying to make her third Olympics for Japan, which earned three spots in Sochi.
She had originally been scheduled to make her competitive return to the rink at the Oct. 12-14 Kanto championships.
Ando must pass regional qualifiers to compete in the national championships at Saitama Super Arena in December, which double as the final Olympic qualifier for Sochi.