Akito Watabe won the first Nordic combined event of his career, holding off Mikko Kokslien of Norway for the victory on Sunday. The 23-year-old Watabe became the fourth Japanese ever to win on the Nordic combined circuit and the first since Daito Takahashi who won twice in March 2004. Kenji Ogiwara holds the Japanese record with 19 victories. Takanori Kono has also won once.
"I feel out of this world," Watabe said. "I was so nervous I started too fast, and I was struggling in the second half. I did all I could to run away with it, but it was so tough on this course."
Published on Tuesday, 07 February 2012
