Chongli (China), Dec. 12 -- Japan swept the men's halfpipe podium at the FIS Snowboard World Cup here on Friday, while China's veteran rider Cai Xuetong claimed bronze in thewomen's event.
Led by Beijing 2022 Olympic champion Ayumu Hirano, seven Japanese competitors advanced to the 14-man final. Hirano secured gold with a first-run score of 93.50 points, followed by 2010 world champion Yuto Totsuka, who scored 90.25 for silver.
Ruka Hirano staged a remarkable comeback in the final run, climbing from 12th place to 89.00 points to clinch bronze, edging out Brazil's Patrick Burgener. China's Wang Ziyang finished eighth.
On the women's side, South Korea's 17-year-old Choi Ga-on delivered a stunning last run, scoring 92.75 to claim gold and o...