Ligety faces Hirscher hurdle to fourth ski gold

Austrian tyro Marcel Hirscher has been installed as the bookmakers' favourite for the men's slalom at the World Ski Championships on Sunday. But the 23-year-old, who won a silver in the giant slalom on Friday, has a potentially monumental obstacle that could block his way to the top of the podium: American Ted Ligety. Ligety has so far claimed three gold medals here (super-G, super combined, giant slalom), the first time a male skier has achieved that feat since France's Jean-Claude Killy in 1968. The 28-year-old American will now be seeking to become the first man to win the technical double at the worlds since Italian Alberto Tomba in 1996, and few would bet against him given his electric form on the snow of Schladming. "I don't think I have a very good chance of winning a medal on Sunday," said a modest Ligety. "I don't have the speed or consistency that Marcel or Felix Neureuther or Alexis Pinturault have. If I put together two really great runs, I think I have some chance of maybe sliding onto the podium but that will take some luck." Ligety added: "I'd like to think I could possibly get a medal. But my expectations aren't necessarily that high." Hirscher, who has admitted to struggling to deal with carrying the weight of an expectant nation on his young shoulders, again tried to downplay his chances in the championships-ending slalom. "My target has been reached. Whatever comes now is an added bonus," said the Salzburg native who also won gold as part of the Austrian squad that claimed victory in the team event. "My goal on Sunday is to enjoy the last race." France's injury-plagued defending world champion Jean-Baptiste Grange said Hirscher's style had left him in no doubt over his commitment. "Marcel impresses me with his capacity to go 110 percent all-out from the first to the last gate," said Grange. "He's good and very confident." French hopes lie more with Pinturault, who enjoyed a blistering slalom run in the super-combined in which he finished sixth and was fifth in the giant slalom. He said his ambition was to be more consistent. "I'll first try to start the thing correctly and not do what I did in the giant slalom," said the 21-year-old. "So I'll try to lay down a first run and then a good second one because that's what you need to do to get gold." Other contenders for the podium will be giant slalom bronze medallist Manfred Moelgg of Italy, and German duo Neureuther and Fritz Dopfer. "I think I'm in good shape and I think I'm stronger in the slalom than in giant," warned Moelgg. From : AFP