Alpine Skiing: Hirscher Claims First Giant Slalom Title

ST. MORITZ, Switzerland, , (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 17th Feb, 2017 ) - Austrian Marcel Hirscher kept his nerve in deteriorating conditions to win his first world giant slalom title on Friday after two previous silvers.

Hirscher, on track for a sixth consecutive World Cup overall crystal globe and silver medallist in last week's alpine combined in St Moritz, clocked a total time of 2min 13.31sec, with snow flurries and cloud hampering the second run.

Hirscher's unheralded teammate Roland Leitinger, whose previous best World Cup finish was a sixth place in the Soleden giant slalom in 2015, claimed silver, 0.

25sec adrift. Leif Kristian Haugen of Norway usurped favoured teammate Henrik Kristoffersen by five-hundredths of a second to take bronze, at 0.71sec.

Reigning three-time champion Ted Ligety, behind whom Hirscher won silvers in 2015 in Beaver Creek/Vail and 2013 in Schladming, was unable to defend his title, the American having undergone surgery on a back injury.