Russia Dominates Mixed Relays At IBU JOECH

Russia’s Ksenia Dovgaya and Igor Malinovskii were crowned IBU Junior European Single Mixed Relay Champions, with 10 spare rounds, finishing in 42:47.8. Switzerland won the Silver medal despite one penalty and 11 spare rounds, 6.9 seconds back. Sweden claimed the Bronze medal, with 7 spare rounds, 22 seconds back

The afternoon mixed relay brought more joy for the Russian team as Anastasiia Goreeva, Alina Klevtsova, Aleksandr Bektuganov and Said Karimulla Khalili, won the Gold medal, using 12 spare rounds crossed the finish line with 1:18.06.8. The Silver medal went to Norway, with 12 spares, 37.2 seconds back. Germany won the Bronze medal, with a penalty and 12 spares, 1:05.3 back.

Malinovskii Strong in Single Mixed

In 7th position after the first exchange, the Russians stepped up their game, moving to third after the second exchange. Losing some positions on the track, Dovgaya came to the last exchange in the fifth. Malinovskii showed what he is made of in his anchor leg, catching his rivals for the win.

Dovgaya admitted, “My feelings are unreal. It is so much higher level here than I am used to. I am so happy with this win. After today I have tons of motivation,”  Teammate Malinovskii said the season has not been the best for him. Although 67th in the individual yesterday, Malinovskii remained motivated. “My season has not been the best, but after the competition yesterday, I decided to never give up. No matter what happens, I will never give up and I will continue fighting.”

Leading the competition after the second and third bouts, the Swiss duo Amy Baserga and Sebastian Stalder held on for Silver. “The last shooting is always hard, but in the end I no penalty loops and I was able to go for the second place,” said Stalder.

Seventh after the second exchange, the Swedish duo of Amanda Lundstroem and Henning Sjokvist made an all-out effort with Lundstroem takings matters into her own hands, handing Sjokvist second position. Sjokvist commented, “I realized that we can take the medal only in the last few meters .I thought that Germany was quite near, but I managed to keep them behind."

Russian Gold Number Two in Mixed Relay

The Russian team avoiding the penalty loop stayed in the lead for most of the competition. Shooting with confidence, the anchor Khalili brought them their second Gold medal.

The anchor said, "I want to say thank you to all my team. Today is a good day for all of our team. After three legs we had a good position and I'm happy that I succeed in the last shooting under pressure and could bring the victory for my team."

Norway's Hilde Fosse, Randi Sollid Nordvang, Vebjoern Soerum and Sivert Guttorm Bakken manage won the Silver medal. "I opened hard and hoped that the French guy doesn't have so much energy later in the race. Even though I had one or two spare round too much, it was a good competition,” comments the Norwegian anchor Bakken.

The German foursome of Hanna Kebinger, Juliane Fruehwirt, Tim Grotian and Julian Hollandt relied on fast skis to claim their Bronze medal. Fruehwirt taking th tag in 6th, moved her team up to second by the next exchange. “I felt tired today, but we had fast skis and this was very necessary today. " Grotian followed with a strong leg, giving Hollandt the lead, but he struggled in the last standing and they slipped to third.

 Germany won the IBU Junior Cup Relay Score, two points ahead of Russia..

The IBU Junior European Open Championships continue on March 9 with sprint competitions.