In a dramatic showdown at the FIS World Championships in Switzerland, China's mixed team aerials secured a sixth-place finish in a fiercely competitive event.
The squad, comprised of veterans Qi Guangpu, Xu Mengtao, and Wang Xindi, battled hard for one of the coveted final round spots. Xu, the reigning Olympic champion, led off with a jump that ended in a less-than-perfect landing, scoring 59.61 points and placing seventh overall. Wang tackled a technically challenging routine and scored 94.69, while Qi delivered a polished final jump, earning 119.03 points. Despite their individual efforts, the combined score fell just short of the top four cutoff.
"Today's competition venue is very close to next year's Winter Olympics site, so this serves as a preview for us to acclimatize to the conditions at the Milan Winter Olympics," Qi remarked. He further explained that while most domestic ski resorts offer colder, icier conditions, the snow in Switzerland resembled mud, indicating a need for time and adaptation.
The U.S. team dominated the final round, with each jumper surpassing the 100-point mark to clinch gold, while Ukraine and Switzerland claimed the remaining podium spots. For China's team, the experience provided valuable insights and highlighted the importance of adapting to varying conditions on the international stage.
As the team reflects on their performance, the lessons from Switzerland set the stage for further strategic adjustments ahead of the Milan Winter Olympics, promising a renewed focus on technique and adaptability.
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China finish sixth in FIS World Championships mixed team aerials
cgtn.com
