Takanashi wins first Grand-Prix in Almaty

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Sara Takanashi won the Grand-Prix on Saturday in Almaty ahead of Katja Pozun and Alexandra Pretorius.

Sara Takanashi won Saturday’s Grand-Prix competition in Almaty, Kazhakstan. With jumps of 105.0 and 105.5 meters she was eventually 15.6 points ahead of second ranked Katja Pozun from Slovenia who jumped 100.0 and 97.5 meters. Third came Canada’s Alexandra Pretorius with jumps of 91.5 and 100.5 meters. All three said the after the competition that they like the hill in Almaty very much:

Sara Takanashi: “I am really happy today. The hill is absolutely great for me. We had good conditions today, so it was a fair competition.”

Katja Pozun: “I absolutely didn’t expect this, I am really happy with this result. I like this hill very much.”

Alexandra Pretorius: “It was a kind of struggle with this hill in the beginning. Now the hill is really fun to me. I did not think about today’s result, I was just focused on my jumps”

A little surprising Russia’s Irina Avvakumova came fourth with a pair of jumps of 96.5 and 93.5 meters. This is her best career result so far. Japan’s Ayumi Watase (94.5 and 92.5 m) took the fifth rank ahead of Slovenia’s Maja Vtic (91.5 and 96.5 m).

With today’s win Takanashi has now taken the lead in the overall Grand-Prix. She has 212 points, second is Pretorius with 189. On place three is still Austria’s Daniela Iraschko, who does not compete in Almaty, with 180 points. The final Grand-Prix competition of this will be held tomorrow in Almaty.

RESULTS AND STANDINGS:
Results after the 1st round »

Final results of the competition »
Current overall Grand Prix standings »