Japanese star Takanashi defends junior crown

Japanese ski jump teenage sensation Sara Takanashi, pictured in competition on January 13, 2013, defended her title at the Nordic Junior World Ski Championships in the Czech resort of Liberec

PARIS - Japanese ski jump teenage sensation Sara Takanashi defended her title at the Nordic Junior World Ski Championships in the Czech resort of Liberec on Thursday.

Takanashi, 16, set the standard with a second jump of 102 metres as she racked up 268 points to finish ahead of Italy’s Evelyn Insam (259.5pts) and Slovenia’s Katja Pozun (253.5).

2011 champion Coline Mattel of France was fourth on 246.5.

The diminutive Takanashi (1.51m) adds to the crown she won a year ago in Erzerum, Turkey.

With already four victories to her name this campaign, the Japanese youngster owns a 169-point lead over American Sarah Hendrickson in the World Cup standings at the halfway stage of the 16-event season.

The next stop on the World Cup calendar is scheduled for February 2-3 in Sapporo, Japan.