SKI JUMPING WORLD CUP. OBERSTDORF, Germany (AFP) - Finland's Janne Ahonen won the opening round of the World Cup ski jump Four Hills tournament ahead of Norway's Roar Ljokelsoey and the Czech Republic's Jakub Janda.

Ahonen, the defending Four Hills champion and with three wins to his name, took the honours thanks to leaps of 130.5m and 130m.

The win was also Ahonen's first World Cup triumph of the season and his two attempts were good enough to deny Ljokelsoey (128.5m and 132m) and Janda, the World Cup leader, (123.5m and 133.5m).

The 28-year-old Finn, the reigning World Cup champion, delighted the 30,000-strong crowd with his 31st career success in what was the ninth round of this year's World Cup competition.

Ahonen now has 535 points in the standings while Janda holds on to his lead with 612pts.

The Czech, with four wins under his belt this year, endured a rollercoaster visit to Oberstdorf.

He had been originally disqualified from Thursday's qualifying round after his skis were found to breach the legal limit but was then reinstated.

The second leg of the Four Hills takes place at Garmisch-Partenkirchen (Germany) on January 1 before action in Innsbruck (Austria) on January 4 and at Bischofshofen (Austria) on January 6.

AFP
Friday December 30, 1:53 AM