FIS Nordic Ski World Championships kick off in Liberec, Czech Republic

Women's 10km and Nordic Combined first opportunities for Finnish medals

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Finland’s medal hopes have been set high at the start today of the FIS Nordic Ski World Championships in Liberec, Czech Republic.
      The women cross-country skiers begin their stint with a 10 km classic style race, an event that has been dominated by Finland’s Virpi Kuitunen and Aino-Kaisa Saarinen in the World Cup this season.
      In the Nordic Combined, the favourite to take the gold is Finland’s Anssi Koivuranta, even though in Liberec the event is exceptionally carried out in a reversed order, first skiing and then ski-jumping.
     
In all the Nordic World Championships in Liberec seem to have the makings of a great event. The games are the most international Nordic Ski World Championships ever, with participants from no less than 61 countries.
      Also, for the first time ever female ski-jumpers will compete in a FIS World Championships event. Among the brave women is 14-year-old Julia Kykkänen from Finland.
      At the Wednesday opening ceremony the British rock legends Deep Purple, led by the singer Ian Gillan set the tone of the games to follow.
     
Finland is taking part in the World Championships with a 26-strong team, including 8 male skiers, 7 female skiers, 5 male ski-jumpers, 1 female ski-jumper, and 5 Nordic Combined competitors.
     
     
UPDATED 14:00
     
     
Aino-Kaisa Saarinen confirmed her pre-race favourite status by taking the gold medal in the opening event, 4.2 seconds ahead of Marianna Longa of Italy and a further seven seconds ahead of Justyna Kowalczyk of Poland. Finland's Virpi Kuitunen finished just outside the medals in 4th, and Pirjo Muranen crowned a fine opening performance for the Finnish contingent by taking 7th place.
      Details of this and the Nordic Combined in tomorrow's edition.


Previously in HS International Edition:
  Kuitunen and Saarinen score 1-2 victory in Tour de Ski (5.1.2009)
  Koivuranta caps yet another Nordic Combined World Cup event in Schonach (5.1.2009)

Links:
  Liberec 2009
  Anssi Koivuranta on the FIS pages
  Aino-Kaisa Saarinen on the FIS pages
  Virpi Kuitunen on the FIS pages

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