China claims the title of the Freestyle Ski World Cup team aerials
China claimed the title of the 2017-2018 FIS Freestyle Ski World Cup team aerials on Sunday in Chongli, a district of north China's Zhangjiakou.
Qi Guangpu of China competes during the team aerials competition of the 2017-2018 FIS Freestyle Ski World Cup in Zhangjiakou, Hebei Province, on Sunday, December 17, 2017. [Photo: China Plus/Li Jin]
China entered two teams in the team aerials competition. China Team One included Xu Mengtao, Jia Zongyang and Qi Guangpu, and Team Two consisted of Yan Ting, Wang Xindi and Wu Shudi, which finished the fourth place in the first final round.
China Team One ranked first in the first final round, followed by Russia and Australia. In the second final round, Xu earned 87.57 points and Qi earned 127.60 points with a perfectly executed routine.
"He'd better finish well, if not, we would make fun of him for sure," Xu said to the crowd audience while waiting for Jia's performance.
Jia didn't land firmly in his last jump and only earned 85.84 points, but it's good enough for them to claim the title.
"I'm the last one to perform, so I felt some pressure and my landing wasn't perfect. But we are lucky to claim the title, edging out the Australians," said Jia.
Jia Zongyang (L), Xu Mengtao (C) and Qi Guangpu pose for photos after claiming the title of the 2017-2018 FIS Freestyle Ski World Cup team aerials in Zhangjiakou, Hebei Province, on Sunday, December 17, 2017. [Photo: China Plus/Li Jin]
The second stop of the freestyle ski aerial World Cup was held on Sunday morning, and just one jump decided the winner.
Jia Zongyang, who claimed the title Saturday, ranked first again with 127.88 points. Qi Guangpu, who finished the fourth Saturday, took the silver medal with 127.60 points, and the bronze medal came to Anton Kushnir from Belarus, who earned 124.34 points.
"I fell while landing yesterday, I leant my lesson and managed to land solidly today, that's why I can step on the podium," said Qi.
China's Xu Mengtao took a silver medal with 87.42 points. The gold medal came to Australian Danielle Scott, who earned 100.11 points with the same set of flip as Xu. Kristina Spiridonova of Russia took the bronze medal with 86.94 points.