Timi Zajc wins Slovenia’s first large hill world title since Franci Petek in 1991

Home favourite Timi Zajc claimed Slovenia’s first large hill ski jumping world title since 1991 with a tremendous second leap in Planica.

The 22-year-old was sitting in the silver medal position before his final jump, needing to oust Poland’s David Kubacki and hope that leader Ryoyu Kobayashi of Japan didn’t match his score.

Only German jumper Karl Geiger could compete with his round-one distance of 137.5m and another monster leap of 137m took him 11.3 points clear of Kubacki.

And Kobayashi could only manage to record a second-round score of 132.8, enough to seal silver, but not enough to quieten the Slovenian fans packed at the bottom of the HS138.

Zajc said: “It was amazing. It was two perfect jumps. Today was my day and I enjoyed it.

“Thanks to all my fans, thanks to all the home fans. They made a really good atmosphere and they’ll be in my heart forever.”

Despite being pipped by Zajc and Kobayashi, Kubacki climbed one place to bronze, ahead of compatriot Kamil Stoch by 4.1 points.

The ski jumping action at the Nordic World Championship in Planica concludes on Saturday with the men’s team large hill event starting at 4.30pm local time.

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