SOCHI, Russia (AP) — Qi Guangpu claimed his first World Cup victory in the men’s freestyle skiing aerials event on Sunday, while compatriot Xu Mengtao captured her fifth victory this season to secure the women’s overall title with one event left.
The men’s second final was marred by heavy snowfall and dense fog at the 2014 Sochi Olympics venue of Rosa Khutor Extreme Park. All four finalists fell when they tried to land after performing their jumps. Qi scored 99.00 points. He was followed by countryman Liu Zhongqing with 95.02 and Denis Osipau of Belarus with 90.18.
Xu scored 106.02 points. Laura Peel of Australia had 82.07, while Tanja Schaerer of Switzerland was third with 74.82 points.
World Cup aerials leader Jia Zongyang of China, who finished 11th, leads the men’s standings with 414 points after three victories this season. Qi is second with 321.
Xu leads the women’s standings with 560 points.
