Japanese double victory in Pyeongchang

Sara Takanashi took the win in the second competition of the FIS World Cup Ladies Ski Jumping in Pyeongchang. One day after Takanashi already secured the overall World Cup victory she proved her class once more with jumps to 99,5 and 97,0 meters and 215,1 points. Places two and three went to teammate Yuki Ito and Maren Lundby of Norway.

53rd win for Takanashi
Takanashi said: „I am very happy, that I won this 53rd World Cup on the Olympic hill. The conditions been very difficult. I had to focus very much on what I have to do.“ Yuki Ito delivered the outstanding moment of the day on the new Olympic hill. With 111,0 meters she performed a new hill record in the final round and came back from 4th place after round one. Ito was only 1,5 points short of the victory. She said: „In the final I was quite lucky with the wind. But also in the first round I was able to do a good jump. I have a good feeling for this hill. But in order to achieve something here next year I will have to do a lot of work.“

Tricky wind in Pyeongchang
On third place Maren Lundby was struggling with the wind conditions. After 103,0 meters and a clear lead after the first round, 94,0 meters in the final were not enough for the victory. 210,2 points and the third place still should give the Norwegian huge confidence for the upcoming World Championships. „It was very windy and difficult today. But I was able to keep it together and show good jumps. The result is important because it feels good to know what is coming up at the Olympics next year. As for Lahti, I hope I will make two good jumps and hopefully finish on the podium. That is my goal.“

Klinec falling and still 4th
Ema Klinec of Slovenia left out on her second podium finish in Pyeongchang due to a fall in the final round. With 101,0 and 102,0 meters she still came in fourth despite the fall with 187,7 points. Yuka Seto completed an almost perfect Japanese team performance with 172,9 points on 5th place ahead of Germany´s Ramona Straub. Julia Kykkaenen of Finland did even better than on Wednesday and finished 7th ahead of US girl Nita Englund.

Tikhonova in top ten
Sofya Tikhonova of Russia came in 9th and celebrated the second top ten result of her career, Slovenia´s Maja Vtic finished 10th. The young German squad with Gianina Ernst, Luisa Goerlich and Agnes Reisch came in 11th, 13th and 15th. Natasha Bodnarchuk of Canada secured World Cup points on 19 position ahead of teammate Atsuko Tanaka. Oceane Avocat Gros was best French athlete on 22nd place.

Next stop: World Championships
In exactly one week the ladies have to face the qualification for the individual competition of the World Championships in Lahti (FIN). The next and last World Cup will be held on the legendary Holmenkollen in Oslo (NOR) on March 12th.