Ski jumping: Japan’s Ito wins back-to-back WCups

Japan’s Daiki Ito won his second ski-jumping World Cup in two days on home snow yesterday, coming from behind to leap the round’s longest distance in his second attempt.
The 26-year-old Japanese ace, who lifted the first World Cup of his career on the same Okurayama Hill in Sapporo on Saturday, trailed in third spot after his first jump of 127.5 metres (418 feet).
But he jumped 137 metres in his second run to collect a total 243.7 points.
“I could do better than yesterday in both jumps. I was lucky I could catch the wind although it was not stable,” Ito said.
Poland’s Kamil Stoch led the first jump with 131.5 metres and leapt another 131.5 metres to come in second with 241.6 points.
World Cup leader Andreas Kofler of Austria finished third with 241.3 points after jumps of 122.5 and 135 metres.
Kofler led the World Cup points table with 994 after 17 rounds, followed by Anders Bardal of Norway with 907. Bardal finished 14th with 203.2 points yesterday.
Ito rose to seventh spot overall with 620 points, including five podium finishes.
The next World Cup leg will be Val di Fiemme, Italy, with two jumps at the weekend.