Hinako Tomitaka was one of two Japanese skiers to miss out on gold in Chiesa in Valmalenco ©Getty Images

It was an agonising day for Japan as athletes from the country lost the men’s and women’s duel moguls finals at the International Ski Federation Freestyle Ski World Junior Championships in Chiesa in Valmalenco.

After individual moguls and aerials action went ahead yesterday in the Italian resort, women’s duel moguls action started proceedings today, in which Russia’s Anastasiia Smirnova won gold.

The 16-year-old, who is Russian champion and a former world junior bronze medallist, beat Japan’s Hinako Tomitaka in the big final.

The victory gave Smirnova her first world junior title, shortly after Japan gained the bronze through Kisara Sumiyoshi.

Masahiro Kimoto lost the men's final, having also finished second in the moguls event yesterday to Nikita Novitckii ©FIS
Masahiro Kimoto lost the men's final, having also finished second in the moguls event yesterday to Nikita Novitckii ©FIS

The 19-year-old, who just missed out on the podium in yesterday’s moguls event, went one better in the duel contest and finished third by beating Sweden’s Josefina Wersen.

Japan also missed out on gold in the men’s event as Masahiro Kimoto lost out to Canada’s Elliot Vaillancourt in their big final.

It means 18-year-old Kimoto has lost two finals in two days, after he was beaten by Russia’s Nikita Novitckii in yesterday’s event.

The United States claimed bronze after Alex Lewis outpaced compatriot Landon Wendler in the small final.