Japan overcame the Netherlands to capture the gold medal in the women's team pursuit at the World Cup speed skating competition on Saturday.
The Japanese team of Nana Takagi, Miho Takagi and Misaki Oshigiri clocked 2 minutes, 59.08 seconds and finished 0.61 seconds ahead of the Netherlands (2:59.69). Russia came in third (3:00.36).
"This victory is an ego boost. We hope to aim for gold in the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics (in 2018) as well," said Nana Takagi, who was also a member of the national team that clinched Japan's first-ever gold in team pursuit at the world single-distance championships in February.
In the men's 5,000-meter Division B race won by Norwegian Havard Bokko (6:22.88), Ryosuke Tsuchiya missed the national record by 2.40 seconds and settled for second in 6:24.38.