By Yegor Glebov
Finnish biathlete Kaisa Mдkдrдinen won the event, having also taken gold in two sprint races. Third place went to Russian Olga Zaitseva. Ms. Mдkдrдinen took the lead immediately, setting off from first position. Despite two misses at the target ranges, she finished in 30 minutes and 52 seconds. Darya Domracheva set off from 20th position and managed to catch the leaders, assuming second position before too long, thanks to her legendary fast skiing. She hit every target until the final range and was just one minute behind Kaisa. Olga Zaitseva was a full minute and 53.4 seconds behind the Finn, with 5 missed targets.
In 17th place was Belarus’ Nadezhda Skardino (+3 minutes 29.5 seconds; 5 misses), while Lyudmila Kalinchik took 31st position (+4 minutes 30.3 seconds; 4 misses) and Anastasiya Duborezova was 51st (+5 minutes 49.7 seconds; 6 misses).
Darya Domracheva showed the best marksmanship of all in the pursuit and was fourth fastest around the track. Her medal is her 56th in the World Cup: 18 gold and 18 silver, as well as 20 bronze. In the all-round standings for the World Cup 2013/14 season, she remains in third place (650 points), behind Tora Berger of Norway (724), and Kaisa Mдkдrдinen (781). The Finn was fantastically successful during her home cup stage in Kontiolahti. However, the struggle for the Big Crystal Globe continues.
