Clock ticking for Norwegian skier Northug to secure Olympic berth

Stockholm (dpa) - Veteran Norwegian cross-country skier Petter Northug‘s hopes of securing a spot at the upcoming Winter Olympics have dimmed further due to a cold, reports said Wednesday.The illness has forced Northug, who has been struggling to find his best form this season, to abstain from a sprint event at the national championships on Thursday, his coach Stig Rune Kveen told news agency NTB.Northug, 32, was "very disappointed" Kveen added."This doesn‘t improve his chances. He has just 10 days so crunchtime is approaching," Team Norway director Vidar Lofshus told public broadcaster NRK.On the selection, Lofshus said that World Cup races "weigh more" but the Norwegian selectors have said that "the national championships in the sprint event also count," he added.Lofshus said he has not given up hop that Northug will compete at the nationals later this week. The 15-kilometre freestyle event is due Friday, followed the day after by the 30km mass start. The latter event is traditionally favoured by Northug.NRK cross-country ski expert Fredrik Aukland assessed Northug‘s chances of a ticket for the Pyeongchang Games in South Korea as "very small"."He has a chance and has to perform 100 per cent, otherwise I believe he‘s out," Aukland said.A World Cup sprint event on January 20 at Planica, Slovenia is likely Northug‘s last option.Northug‘s Olympic medal haul includes two golds from the 2010 Games in Vancouver.