Anton Smolski. An archive photo
MINSK, 29 November (BelTA) – Anton Smolski of Belarus clinched victory in the sprint at the first stage of the Russian Biathlon Cup in Khanty-Mansiysk, BelTA has learned.
The men’s sprint featured 106 biathletes, including 14 Belarusians. The leader of Belarus’ national team Anton Smolski did not miss a single shot on both shooting ranges and clocked the best time at the finish, beating Russia’s Alexander Povarnitsyn by 6.5 seconds. Anton Babikov rounded out the top three, 14 seconds behind the winner.
“It is not as cold today as it was in the previous days, although the frost is still here. It’s minus 12 degrees, but it is even colder in the forest. Still, breathing was much easier today compared to yesterday when the race was called off,” Anton Smolski said on the air of Match TV Channel. “The wind was strong and shifting, making zeroing challenging. However, there were no gusts at the range itself, which I used to my advantage. I am glad that I managed to shoot clean with my skis performing well.”
The top twenty in the sprint was closed by Belarusian Dzmitry Lazouski. Other Belarusian biathletes to qualify for the pursuit race were Mikita Labastau (29th), Pavel Belko (36th), Ivan Tulatsin (37th), Ilya Auseyenka (41st), Stsiapan Danilau (51st), and Aleksandr Golyak (56th). However, Aleksei Logvinov (67th), Kirill Baburov (75th), Gleb Orlovsky (77th), Denis Yeremov (78th), Andrei Gavrosh (96th), and Vitaly Kazachenok (101st) did not make the cut for pursuit on 30 November.
On 27 November, Belarusian Hanna Sola won the sprint race in the women’s event, with Dzinara Smolskaya coming in fourth. The women’s pursuit will start at 9.00 on 30 November. The men’s pursuit at 12.30 will wrap up the program of the first stage of the Russian Biathlon Cup in Khanty-Mansiysk.
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