Posted:
11.02.2025 13:38:34
Time for the quick and accurate
The best ‘snow snipers’ of the country have been determined in Raubichi
Two days of competition and 15 races filled with rivalry — another season of the Snow Sniper national competitions among children and adolescents in biathlon for the prizes of the President’s Sports Club has come to an end in Raubichi. More than 14,000 children from across the country took part in the qualifying rounds, and 168 of the best — they represented teams from various regions and Minsk — reached the final stage of the tournament. Representatives of the capital city became the winners of the medal standings, having won 8 golds, 6 silvers, and 4 bronzes.
Four-time Olympic champion in biathlon, Hero of Belarus Darya Domracheva presented awards to winners and medallists of competition
The first champions of Snow Sniper were determined back on Friday, as the young athletes competed in sprints. The tournament programme on Sunday was even more packed and included mass starts and mixed relays — competitions were held in a non-stop mode! Despite the biting cold, hundreds of spectators showed up to support the participants, and young athletes could not stop thanking them. One of the competitors, Bogdan Bobrik, a student from Minsk school No. 143, who achieved a golden double in Raubichi, stated, “Such support — with so many people in the stands cheering and encouraging — makes you want to race faster along the track and show the best results! This is my fourth year in Snow Sniper, and I won awards in previous competitions as well. Next year, due to my age, I will be able to participate again, and I will strive to become a champion once more!”
Igor Starodub, a physical education teacher at Barsukovskaya basic school in Klimovichi Region, has been bringing his students to Snow Sniper for 15 years. He fondly remembers how these competitions began and notes that they have evolved a lot over the years and have truly become more interesting, “Previously, children shot from pneumatic rifles from a stationary position, but now Snow Sniper is close to real biathlon. Kids now ski using the skate technique and shoot with small-calibre rifles like professional athletes.”
Hundreds of spectators showed up to support participants of Snow Sniper 
Four-time Olympic champion and Hero of Belarus Darya Domracheva arrived to support the children on the first day of the national biathlon competitions — she participated in the award ceremony for the winners and medallists of the tournament, “It is wonderful that children, who do not do biathlon professionally, have the opportunity to experience this remarkable sport at such a splendid tournament with excellent organisation. This experience will remain in their memories for many years and will motivate them towards future achievements and successes. I empathise with the kids who did not win today, I understand their tears. But it is important not to focus on today’s results or competitors — it is important to focus on their own goals and desires, striving to improve every day and become stronger than they were the day before. That is when the big victories will come.”
Olga Nazarova, a prize-winner of world and European championships in biathlon, and a multiple world champion in summer biathlon, spoke about the significance of such events, “It is very pleasing to see children who are passionate about our sport and who aspire to become professional biathletes, striving diligently in their training. At this stage, it is crucial for the kids to believe in themselves and aim to improve each day. After all, results are composed of many factors: talent, hard work, and determination... On the way to the Snow Sniper finals, the kids underwent a series of qualifiers, and the fact that they managed to reach the national level is already a significant achievement. It is great that there are competitions that allow them to progress step by step on this journey and give them a chance to feel like true athletes.”
The faces of the children who stood on the Snow Sniper podium beamed with joy. On the final day of the tournament, awards were presented to the winners and runners-up by Deputy Prime Minister Igor Petrishenko, Sports and Tourism Minister Sergei Kovalchuk, Education Minister Andrei Ivanets, and Chairman of the Belarusian Biathlon Federation Andrian Tsibulsky.
Children ski using the skate technique 
During Snow Sniper, participants shoot with small-calibre rifles like professional athletes Sergei Kovalchuk remarked, “Children’s sport is our future. The young boys and girls who took to the ski track in Raubichi had been preparing for competitions on roller skis, as snow was not available everywhere. Their desire to do sports and their passion for it are invaluable. They set an example of how to prepare and succeed under such conditions!”
Snow Sniper has concluded, but the calm in Raubichi will not last long. On February 15th, the main biathlon centre of the country will host the Cup of the strongest athletes, which will gather participants from Belarus and Russia. Among them will be the winners and medallists of the Olympic Games, Dzinara Smolskaya and Anton Smolski, Eduard Latypov, Karim Khalili, Kristina Reztsova, and Irina Kazakevich, as well as world championship medallists Hanna Sola and Anton Babikov, renowned biathletes Dzmitry Lazouski, Tamara Derbusheva, and many others. A true celebration for sports enthusiasts is being prepared in Raubichi: during the Cup of the strongest athletes, there will be a hospitality area with a food court, souvenir sales, and a raffle for souvenir products.
Final of Snow Sniper national competitions among children and adolescents in biathlon for prizes of President’s Sports Club By Tatiana Pastushenko
