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Akito Watabe fell while jumping during the World Championships mixed event
Photo: Darko Bandic / dpa
Combination national coach Hermann Weinbuch criticized the organizers of the World Championships in Planica after the falls in the mixed competition.
'It was very dangerous, grossly negligent.
Something like that shouldn't happen at the World Cup," said Weinbuch on Sunday morning.
After the Italian Alessandro Pittin and the Japanese Akito Watabe fell one after the other in Slovenia, the competition organizers decided to stop the competition prematurely.
The problem was that the landing slope was too soft and had obviously not been properly prepared after heavy snowfall during the night.
"Unfortunately, the homework hasn't been done," said Weinbuch.
'It's way too soft.
You made a misjudgment during the preparation.« According to the 62-year-old, the fresh snow should have been removed before jumping.
If the competition had continued, Weinbuch would not have let his athletes jump far with a shorter run-up to protect them.
Special jumpers should also start in the afternoon
“It is a catastrophe for the overall situation in Nordic combined.
We need to see big and good jumps.
It hurts my soul that unfortunately something like this happened again.« Veteran Watabe had fallen headfirst into the snow after landing, his teammate Yuna Kasai could be seen in tears in the outrun.
It had snowed heavily in Slovenia overnight.
“It's very difficult over a wide area, very dull with the fresh snow.
I think that's the right decision so that you don't take any risks here, "said Jenny Nowak on ZDF.
The former Junior World Champion starts for Germany together with Vinzenz Geiger, Julian Schmid and Nathalie Armbruster.
The German jump coach Heinz Kuttin even suggested a postponement to Monday.
»You need more time.
You could also be braver and say: We want a really good competition.
For the first time we have the stage at world championships together with the women.
In my opinion, one would be well advised to say: It can't be done today, we'll do it tomorrow," said the Austrian.
The landing hill had been prepared for the competition since early morning.
The planned trial run had already been canceled for this reason.
From 5:00 p.m. on the normal hill, the mixed event for the special jumpers will also be held.
ara/dpa/sid