MINSK, 24 November (BelTA) – Khanty-Mansiysk is hosting the first stage of the Russian Biathlon Cup with the participation of Belarusian athletes, BelTA has learned.
The men's sprint event opened the competition program. Best among the Belarusian athletes was Anton Smolski, the leader of the team, who finished 15th with three penalties. Mikita Labastau was 18th, Ivan Tulatin – 26th, Maksim Varabei – 29th, Raman Yaliotnau – 33rd, Pavel Belko – 38th, Ilya Auseyenka – 44th, Stsiapan Danilau – 51st, and Aliaksandr Koshyn – 52nd. The top three in the men's sprint event were Russian athletes Karim Khalili, Aleksandr Loginov and Piotr Pashchenko. Taking part in the event were 81 athletes.
Leader of the Belarusian national team Dzinara Alimbekava finished 6th with two penalties in the women's sprint. The event was won by Anastasiya Goreyeva from Moscow Oblast, who surpassed the Belarusian by 50.3 seconds. Second was Natalia Gerbulova from Krasnoyarsk Territory, third – Viktoria Slivko from Tyumen.
As for the other Belarusian athletes that took part in the event, Alina Pilchuk came in 13th, Irina Kruchinkina – 14th, Elena Kruchinkina – 15th, Yuliya Kavaleuskaya – 20th, Adelina Sabitava – 34th, Darya Kudayeva – 35th. A total of 55 athletes competed in the women's sprint.
The pursuit events are scheduled for Saturday, 26 November. The competition program will wrap up with relay events on 27 November.
