Dzinara Smolskaya. Image credit: Belarus' NOC
MINSK, 30 November (BelTA) – Leaders of Belarus’ women’s national biathlon team won medals in a pursuit race at the first stage of the Russian Biathlon Cup in the city of Khanty-Mansiysk, BelTA has learned.
The winner of the sprint, Belarusian Hanna Sola, was the first to start the 12.5km race, with Dzinara Smolskaya setting off 24 seconds later with the fourth start number. At the first prone shooting, Hanna Sola made two mistakes and dropped to the third place, with Dzinara Smolskaya following close behind with one miss. Both Belarusians shot cleanly in the second shooting and took the lead.
At both shooting ranges Dzinara Smolskaya once again performed flawlessly from a standing position while Hanna Sola picked up a total of three penalty loops. Dzinara Smolskaya crossed the finish line first, with Hanna Sola closing out the top three, 37 seconds behind. Between the two Belarusians was Russia’s Natalya Shevchenko, who finished nine seconds behind the winner.
Another of Belarusian athlete Alena Kulak took the 17th place while her teammate Ksenia Varabei finished 43rd. A total of 51 biathletes took part in the pursuit race. The program of the first stage of the Russian Biathlon Cup in the city of Khanty-Mansiysk will conclude with a men’s pursuit race, which is due to start at 12:30, Minsk time.
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