Ryoyu Kobayashi of Japan celebrates his victory Jan. 1, 2022, at the second leg of the Four-Hills ski jumping tournament in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany. (Kyodo)

       TOKYO (Kyodo) -- Japan's Ryoyu Kobayashi sealed back-to-back Four Hills victories on Saturday with a narrow win over German local favorite Markus Eisenbichler.

       Following his success in the event opener in Oberstdorf, Germany, earlier this week, Kobayashi repeated in the second Four Hills leg held just over 60 kilometers to the east in Garmisch-Partenkirchen.

       He finished just 0.2 points ahead of Eisenbichler with 143 and 135.5-meter efforts that earned him a two-round total of 291.2 points. Slovenia's Lovro Kos finished third with 286 points.

       A second Four Hills grand slam is now on the cards for Kobayashi after he swept the prestigious event in the 2018-2019 season.

       "I'm super, super happy," Kobayashi said.

       "I was really buzzed in the first round and really nervous in the second. Considering that my form wasn't bad," he said.

       By securing his third straight World Cup victory, the 25-year-old Japanese improved his season total to five wins and career total to 24.

       He leapfrogged Germany's Karl Geiger into first place in the overall standings.

       The final two legs of the Four Hills Tournament will be held in the Austrian resorts of Innsbruck and Bischofshofen next week.

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