Japan clean sweeps Alpine events at Winter Asiad

Japan easily defended its top position in Alpine skiing at the sixth Asian Winter Games, clean sweeping four gold medals on offer.

Yasuhiro Ikuta collected his second personal title at this Games, winning the men's slalom on Saturday with a combined time of one minute and 47.92 seconds, 0.62 seconds ahead of silver medallist Kang Min-heuk from South Korea.

"Yes, we are strong in Alpine skiing in Asia, and I am contented with the results we achieved here," said Kitamura Takeshi, team leader of the Japanese Alpine skiing team.

"But we have a long way to go to catch up with the top of the world," Takeshi added. "We have to work really hard in the future."

Ikuta's teammate Masashi Hanada finished third with 1:48.85.

Host skier Li Lei was 14th in 1:58.84.

Source: Xinhua