Takanashi, Good to Have You Back!

After a momentary but painful interlude, Japan's queen of ski jumping is back again to the center of the honor's platform at the 12th jump at the Women's World Cup in Romania, January 29.

Sara Takanashi jumped 96 meters in the first round and 97.5 meters, the day's longest successful jump, in her second round to beat Norway's Maren Olstad Lundby who had led the first jump. 

It was Sara's 6th victory jump this season and the 50th in her 86 contests. Sara is now 3 victories short of the overall victories in world cup wins of both men and women put together.

Sara Takanashi commented:

"I'm glad I've made the 50th victory at long last. My second jump was perhaps the best I have recorded here. I believe my condition is improving and will probably look up."

Yuki Ito is placed second in the overall ranking after her 3 wins this season. Yuki jumped 90 meters the first round and 90.5 meters the second for the 4th place - missing the honor's platform for the first time in the sixth jump.

Other Japanese jumpers, Yuka Seto and Kaori Iwabuchi, were placed 9th and 17th, respectively.

The comeback of Sara Takanashi is a welcome tide for the Japanese team as she had for a while been suffering from a momentary slump from being overly conscious of marking her 50th win in Japan.

 Another encouraging news is that Yuki Ito is undergoing a strenuous physical training under Japan's legendary jumper Noriaki Kasai with remarkable results. She is said to have strengthened her soma to a remarkable extent. With Sara back in shape, Japan will hopefully enjoy "one-two-finish" in the ongoing women's jumping with Sara and Yuki.

Trailing Sara Takanashi, Norway's Daniela Iraschko-Stolz placed 2nd and Daniela Iraschko-Stolz of Austria came 3rd. (Nathan Shiga)

Source: NHK