Viktor Kulikov posted a furious come-from-behind victor in the parallel giant slalom duel here on Monday as the Russian snowboarder overcame a strong challenge to win the gold at the Harbin Winter Universiade.
The 25-year-old Russian, who finished 28th place in last month's Euro Cup, lost to the promising gold medal contender Austrian Andreas Lausegger in the final's first run.
In the decisive final race, Viktor seemed nearly beaten approaching the final bends but found an extra burst of pace on his board to sneak past the Austrian, barging into the finishing gate first to cheer the screaming crowds.
Andreas, who was the boarder cross winner at Universiade on last Saturday, even couldn't believe his eyes after the race and had to accept his gold-rush dream snapped. The Austrian Euro Cup winner said he felt a little tired before the final race and described the defeat as a woeful pity.
In the third-place play-offs, Germany's Alex Deubl beat Japan's Takamitsu Shirakawa after a two-round race to wrap up the bronze.
The six-day snowboard competitions at Universiade will stage men's and women's half-pipe and big air in the following three days, with medals already distributed for two disciplines.
(Xinhua News Agency Feburary 24, 2009)
