15 Feb 2019

Sport: Late rule change denies Tongan skier at World Champs

From , 4:00 pm on 15 February 2019

Tongan skier Kasete Naufahu Skeen is staying positive despite a late rule change denying him a place in the men's giant slalom main race at the Alpine World Ski Champs.

The 36 year old finished 107th of 108 competitors who completed both runs in the qualification race in Sweden on Friday, with 12 of the original starters failing to finish.

The top 50 finishers qualified for the main World Championships race and Skeen initially thought he was also through in one of the spots reserved for countries, such as Tonga, that have only one representative at the event.

But he told Vinnie Wylie the officials changed the qualifying criteria after the race.

Tongan skier Kasete Naufahu Skeen.

Tongan skier Kasete Naufahu Skeen. Photo: Supplied