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Russia rules biathlon, history made at Winter Universiade

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2009-02-28 21:10

MAOERSHAN - Don't be jealous.

Russia, good at cross-country skiing and rifle shooting, not only jumped over traditional biathlon powers including Belarus and Ukraine, but also posed threat to the host on the overall gold medal tally with their medals drive mostly fuelled from the combined sport.

The Russian skiers made history by taking six of nine biathlon golds on offer, which, plus the ten golds it grabbed from cross-country, nearly completed its medal spree at the Universiade.

Related readings:  Final medal table at Harbin Winter Universiade  Asian athletes make golden haul at Winter Universiade  China on top of Harbin Winter Universiade medal table  Swiss jumper injured in Universiade training

However, on Saturday afternoon, Song Chaoqing still broke through the Russia's block in the women's mass start, gifting China the first biathlon gold, which could be seen as the leap for Chinese biathletes.

The 18-year-old Song missed five of all 20 targets in the four shooting rounds but sprinted to victory in the tough 12.5km race in 39 minutes 13.4 seconds.

"It was an unbelievable victory today. I never thought I could win the event especially in front of so many Russian elites," said the beaming Song after the close race, which was challenged by seven ambitious Russian biathletes fielded onto the arena, aiming to win the last event on snow.

The other two defeats of Russians lay in the men's mass start and pursuit race.

Jaroslav Soukup of Czech Republic beat Russia's favorite Artem Gusev to win the 15 kilometers skiing in 42 minutes 3.2 seconds, missing only two targets. While double gold medallists Artem led in much of the race but was surpassed by the Czech in the third round of shooting, when he missed one more target than Soukup, which cost him one extra lap of 150 meters.

In the 12.5-kilometer pursuit, Ukraine's Oleg Berezhnoy claimed title with near-perfect shooting results. The athlete missed only one target, and his superior skiing skill guaranteed him the victory with a leading speed of 33 minutes 47.3 seconds.

Russians' dominance was unchallenged elsewhere, as sprint and individual competitions just turned to Russian's solo shows.

In the competition comprising 10-kilometer skiing and one round rifle shootings of ten targets, Artem Gusev finished first in 25 minutes 44.6 seconds, with an all-hit record in both standing and prone positions. In women's 7.5-kilometer race, Artem's teammate Nadezhda Chastina took a convincing victory after missing just one target on the snow-covered shooting range, finishing the race first in 22 minutes 49.0 seconds.

Artem also showed his magic strength in the 20-kilometer individual race. Despite five lapses in shooting, the 26-year-old Russian topped all his rivals to cross the line first in 56 minutes and 53.4 seconds. In women's 15-kilometer race, Anna Kunaeva shrugged aside three missed targets and let her superior skiing skill propel herself to victory in 51 minutes and 46.1 seconds.

Two years ago in Turino, Russian biathletes only reaped in three disciplines. The other seven golds were split by Belarus and Ukraine.

But Harbin is apparently their lucky city.