Japan’s Ryōyū Kobayashi edged Slovenia’s Domen Prevc by half a point to claim victory in Innsbruck, denying a rare Grand Slam sweep.
Innsbruck | By Marwa Ahmadi
Japanese ski jumper Ryōyū Kobayashi claimed a narrow victory in a thrilling competition in Innsbruck on Sunday, winning the third stage of the Four Hills Tournament by just half a point.
Kobayashi defeated Slovenia’s Domen Prevc, the pre-event favourite, in a closely contested duel on the Austrian hill. A 131-metre jump in the first round proved decisive for the Japanese athlete. Both competitors recorded jumps of 128 metres in the second round, but Kobayashi’s early advantage was enough to secure the win despite Prevc receiving higher style scores.
Austria’s Stefan Embacher finished third, delighting the home crowd after ending just 0.7 points behind Kobayashi.
“This is my first win this season, and I’m thrilled,” Kobayashi said after the competition. “My jumps weren’t perfect, but they were good enough to win.”
The result denied Prevc a rare Four Hills Grand Slam, having won the opening two events of the tournament. Despite the setback, the Slovenian remains at the top of the overall standings with one competition still to be held.
“I made a few mistakes,” Prevc said. “Sometimes you’re just not the best on the day. Other athletes were better. Ryōyū deserved the win today. He was firm, and it was enjoyable to watch.”
The Four Hills Tournament, first held in 1953, is one of ski jumping’s most prestigious events and consists of four World Cup competitions staged annually across Germany and Austria.