Lysova secures overall biathlon World Cup

Russia’s world and Paralympic champion Mikhalina Lysova secured the third overall women’s visually impaired World Cup globe of her career on Tuesday (15 March), at the IPC Biathlon and Cross-Country Skiing World Cup Finals in Vuokatti, Finland.

Lysova, with guide Alexey Ivanov, only needed a second place finish in the sprint to move out of reach of the rest of the field.

The 23-year-old shot clean to finish in 20:57.8 and cement her points lead with one race to spare. Her latest overall World Cup win adds to previous victories in 2013 and 2014.

Ukraine’s Oksana Shyshkova (20:55.8) kept her dreams of a top three finish alive with the race victory. The win means the Paralympic bronze medallist moves to second place in the standings with guide Vitalii Kazakov.

Russia’s Elena Remizova (22:25.3) was third with guide Maksim Pirogov. Remizova has a five point lead over Shyshkova before the individual race concludes the biathlon World Cup on Wednesday (16 March).

Russia’s Stanislav Chokhlaev moved 70 points clear of multiple Worlds gold medallist teammate Nikolay Polukhin with a win in the men’s visually impaired.

Chokhlaev’s shooting was flawless and he eased to victory in 20:36.9 with guide Oleg Kolodiichuk. Polukhin (20:47.6) was also perfect on both his shooting rounds, guided by Andrey Tokarev, for second place.

Ukraine’s Anatolii Kovalevskyi (20:50.0) was third with guide Oleksandr Mukshyn.

Russia’s Irina Guliaeva (23.31.8) was the victor in the women’s sitting, strengthening her lead at the top of the World Cup rankings.

Compatriot Nadezdha Fedorova (23:52.9) was the only woman in the field to shoot clean, but had to settle for second place. Germany’s Anja Wicker (25:10.0) was third.

Grigory Murygin led an all-Russian top three in the men’s sitting. A Paralympic and Worlds medallist from the longer distances, Murygin (25:23.6) showed his prowess in the sprint despite dropping one shot.

Ivan Golubkov (25:36.0) was second ahead of Paralympic champion Roman Petushkov (26:13.2).

Ukraine’s Oleksandra Kononova prevented Russia’s Anna Milenina from securing the overall title in the women’s standing.

Kononova (20:53.2) improved her own chances of a top three rankings finish with the win ahead of Milenina (21:04.3) in second.

Milenina’s teammate and main competitor for the overall crown, Ekaterina Rumyantseva (21:19.8), completed the podium.

Clean shooting Ukrainian Ihor Reptyukh (18:49.5) climbed onto the top of the podium in the men’s standing. Points leader Vladislav Lekomtsev (19:20.2) claimed more silverware for Russia with second ahead of France’s Benjamin Daviet (19:39.6).

Just one podium finish now stands between Lekomtsev and the overall title.

Full results are available online.

Competition continues on Wednesday (16 March) with the individual races, the final biathlon competition of the 2015-16 World Cup season.