Japanese Kobayashi claims cross-country free race
Xinhua, February 21, 2017 Adjust font size:
Japanese cross-country skier Yuki Kobayashi took it easy in the beginning and quickened her pace in the last few kilometers as she won the women's 10km free race at the Asian Winter Games here on Tuesday.
Kobayashi, who timed 15 minutes and 1.2 seconds at the halfway mark, against 14:55.1 by defending champion Lee Chae-won from South Korea, stormed home in 30:24.6 at Shirahatayama Open Stadium.
"I saved my energy and picked up the pace in the last three kilometers," said Kobayashi, bronze medalist at last Games.
Lee, 24.4 seconds slower, had to settle for the silver medal, and Kazakhstan's Yelena Kolomina took the bronze with a further 25.4 seconds back.
The best Chinese finisher was Li Hongxue who timed 32:10.9 in the sixth place. Endit