SOCHI, October 13 (R-Sport) - Japanese ski jumping prodigy Sara Takanashi soared to victory in the women’s individual event Sunday at the Russian Open Ski Jumping Championship, the last test event at next year’s Winter Olympic venue.
Takanashi, 17, scored 252.5 points from two jumps on the HS106-size hill and was the only jumper to clear 100 meters, which she did on both jumps.
Takanashi finished far ahead of two Russians, second-placed Anastasia Gladysheva on 218.0 points and third-placed Irina Avvakumova on 204.5.
“To get to Takanashi’s level, you have to work a lot,” Gladysheva said. “I don’t have that much experience yet, but I hope that our anthem will be played at the jump sometime.”
Takanashi won individual silver and team gold at February’s world championships and is one of the favorites for gold at the Olympics, which run from February 7 to 23.
The Russian Open Ski Jumping Championship continues with the men’s normal hill event Monday, followed by team events Tuesday and men’s large hill competitions Wednesday and Thursday.
