Winter Sport: 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.
Basketball: Drew Gooden scored 23 points and grabbed eight rebounds yesterday as a short-handed Milwaukee handed Los Angeles Lakers yet another away defeat in the lockout-shortened NBA season. The Bucks, missing injured centre Andrew Bogut, held off Kobe Bryant and the Lakers 100-89. Milwaukee nabbed their fourth victory in six games, while the Lakers fell to 1-7 in away games. Bryant finished with 27 points, nine assists and eight rebounds.
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Marathon: Japan produced a new Olympic hopeful yesterday when Risa Shigetomo (picture) won the Osaka international women’s marathon in only her second such event. The 24-year-old secured victory after a strong showing in the final 15 kilometres, crossing the finishing line in two hours 23 minutes and 23 seconds. Tetiana Gamera-Shmyrko, of Ukraine, finished second in 2:24:46, followed by Japan’s Azusa Nojiri in third with 2:24:57. Beijing Olympic gold medallist Constantina Dita of Romania finished at a lowly 11th with 2:40.08.
Cycling: The Tour of the Mediterranean has been reintegrated into the international cycling calendar, the French Cycling Federation (FFC) said. The early-season stage race had been suspended over a feud about paying rights but, following a number of requests by the FFC to the International Cycling Union (UCI), will be held this February 8-12. The race is held along the southern French coast and in the past has been won by big names such as Eddy Merckx (1977).
Handball: Denmark won the European title for the second time yesterday beating hosts Serbia 21-19 in the final and as a bonus earned a spot at this year’s Olympics. The Danes – who won their previous continental title in 2008 – will be among the favourites for the Olympic title along with holders France and Croatia, who finished third after beating Spain 31-27 earlier in the day. The Danes, though, were also favoured for the 2008 Olympic title but failed to shine, finishing seventh.