Sweden’s Gunde Svan said he was feeling...

Sweden’s Gunde Svan said he was feeling ill on the eve of defending his 30-kilometer cross-country title at the Nordic ski World championship meet in Oberstsdorf, West Germany.

The 30-kilometer cross-country race today is the opening race of the 10-day competition.

Svan was below form when he lost to teammates Torgny Mogren and Thomas Wassberg during his team’s 15-kilometer training race Saturday.

Meanwhile, Finland’s Matti Nykaenen, the Olympic champion in the 90-meter jumping, said his troubles were behind him.

Nykaenen was suspended from the Finnish team early in the year “for unruly and unsuitable behavior” and originally was not named on the World championship squad. But he did exceptionally well in final training sessions in Finland and was restored to the team.