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Li crowns at Winter Universiade freestyle aerials
(Xinhua)
Updated: 2009-02-22 18:11

YABULI -- Chinese Olympic silver medallist Li Ni'na came from behind to beat teammate Cheng Shuang for the victory of the women's freestyle skiing aerials at the 24th Winter Universiade here on Sunday.


China's Li Ni'na celebrates after the women's Aerials Individual competition in the 24th World Winter Universiade at the Yabuli Ski Resort, 195km southeast away from Harbin, capital of northeast China's Heilongjiang province, February 22, 2009. [Xinhua]
Trailing Cheng by 1.41 points after the first round, Li well landed her second jump to collect a winning total of 191.407 points.

Cheng settled for the silver with 188.325 while Dai Shuangfei was a distant third on 168.740.

"It is windy today which made it difficult for us," said the 24- year-old Li. "My teammates decreased difficulties of their jumps in the second round, but I didn't. I was eager to win the gold, so I tried my best in the second jump."

The Universiade debutant, a student from the Shenyang Sports Institute, was grateful to hundreds of spectators on the stand, who were mostly her supporters.

"It's great to have so many supporters behind you, that's why I love to compete on home soil," she said.

Narrowly missing the gold at the 2006 Winter Olympics in Torino, Li was looking forward to next year's Vancouver Games.

"To win an Olympic gold medal is the dream of everyone. I have been trying to increase difficulties of my jumps and hopefully I can have good performance next year."

Five athletes took part in Sunday's women's aerials competition with Maria Shcherbina of Belarus the only non-Chinese.  Shcherbina, who fell on her second jump, finished at bottom with 96.308 behind Zhao Shanshan of China.

The Yabuli ski resort was hit by strong wind on Sunday with Alpine skiing, cross-country and Nordic combined events all postponed.

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