Japan's four-women team finished fourth Friday in the first ski jumping World Cup event since the conclusion of the Beijing Winter Olympics, despite missing Sara Takanashi.
The team of Yuki Ito, Haruka Iwasa, Yuka Seto and Kaori Iwabuchi finished behind gold winners Austria, silver-winning Russia and bronze-winning Slovenia in the first of three competitions on the Aigner-Schanze in Hinzenbach, Austria.
The Ski Association of Japan said Thursday that Takanashi, who is currently sixth in the overall World Cup standings, is training in Europe but the 25-year-old is undecided about her entire competitive schedule, without providing further details.
After the second round of jumps in Hinzenbach, all four Japanese who took part in the women's team HS90 competition said "How are you, Sara" into a TV camera, and Seto, who is from the same Hokkaido town as Takanashi, delivered a get-well message to her friend and rival.
"Sara's existence helped me get this far, and she is an inspiring athlete who has a great impact on many people. I'd like to see her back on the World Cup circuit soon. It will motivate me, and it will brighten up the team," Seto said.
Takanashi was one of five women ski jumpers disqualified from the Beijing Games mixed team ski jumping final on Feb. 7 due to suit violations. Japan just missed out on a medal, finishing fourth at Zhangjiakou National Ski Jumping Centre.
Takanashi broke down in tears after her second jump and quickly left the arena. She later issued an emotional apology on Instagram, saying she was very sorry that she robbed her teammates of the chance of winning a medal.
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