Zografski strikes back in Rasnov
Sep 24, 2023·Ski Jumping
Bulgarian Vladimir Zografski won the FIS Grand Prix in Rasnov (ROU) on Sunday. Zografski prevailed in a thrilling final ahead of the two Swiss Gregor Deschwanden and Remo Imhof. With his victory Zografski could extend his lead in the FIS Grand Prix overall ranking again.
A hard and fair fight for the top in the Grand Prix overall ranking was what the Swiss Gregor Deschwanden had wished for after his victory on Saturday. And exactly this fight was delivered to him in the competition on Sunday by the Bulgarian Vladimir Zografski.
Deschwanden showed an almost perfect final jump on Sunday and put Zografski, who started after him, under enormous pressure. But Zografski was able to keep up and won the competition with 0.9 points ahead of Deschwanden.
The fight for the yellow jersey of the overall leader was the highlight of a strong competition on Sunday of Rasnov. After his success, Zografski leads the overall Grand Prix standings with 500 points, 86 points ahead of Deschwanden.
"I am overjoyed that it went better today after my sixth place yesterday. I had hardly slept at all the night before the competition yesterday and then I simply lacked the necessary energy in the competition", Zografski explained his sixth place from Saturday.
After the competition, second-placed Gregor Deschwanden continued to be aggressive: "Of course I will fight for the overall victory in the Grand Prix until the end. There are still three jumps on the program, a lot is still possible and my form is good", said Deschwanden.
Man of the day was beside the two top athletes the Swiss Remo Imhof who was happy about his first podium. Imhof confirmed his good results of the past winter and showed once again that he will be a force to be reckoned with in the future.
Japan's Ren Nikaido was convincing in fourth place, but lost his mini-podium series which he could hold until Saturday's competition. Slovenian Mark Hafnar was convincing in 5th place ahead of the two Japanese Tomofumi Naito and Keiichi Sato.
Niklas Bachlinger was the best Austrian in 8th place, behind him placed the Kazakh Danil Vassilyev ahead of the US American Andrew Urlaub.
For the men the FIS Grand Prix continues next weekend in Hinzenbach (AUT) with two individual jumping events. In Hinzenbach the whole world elite is expected to start again.
