OLYMPICS: Halfpipe champion Ayumu Hirano selected for Games despite injury

Olympic halfpipe champion Ayumu Hirano has been selected to represent Japan at the Milano Cortina Winter Games, despite suffering injuries in a heavy crash during a World Cup event in Switzerland over the weekend.

The 27-year-old snowboarder crashed during the competition in Laax and had to exit the final midway through after sustaining facial cuts and experiencing lower body pain.

Hirano, who won gold in Beijing, also secured halfpipe silver medals in both Pyeongchang and Sochi. He is now aiming to become the first Japanese Winter Olympian to win a medal in four consecutive Games.

Japan’s ski association also confirmed that Yuto Totsuka and Ruka Hirano will compete in the halfpipe event.

The Winter Olympics will take place from February 6 to 22.

-Reporting by Suramya Kaushik in Bengaluru; Editing by Peter Rutherford/Reuters