Biathlon gold for host nation as Russian dominance continues

The 22-year-old from Brezno treated the home crowds to a flawless performance, hitting all her targets and skiing the fastest to win in a time of 20 minutes and 20.8 seconds. Russia's Jevgenija Pavlovova trailed Fialkova by 29.5 seconds to take the silver medal while Jitka Landova of the Czech Republic finished a further 5.4 seconds back to complete the podium with a bronze medal.

Both Fialkova and Pavlova impressed with clean shooting, but the Slovakian, although hampered by illness, used her superior pace on the skis to take the biggest win of her career.

"I'm very satisfied because I gave one-hundred percent today in front of my home crowd," said Failkova, a student at Matej Bei University at Banska Bystrica and bronze medallist in Sunday's individual 15km race.

"My health is getting worse each day and I struggled with a cough today - but I am happy because that was a perfect performance for me. I am very pleased with my shooting. Winning a gold medal means a lot to me and I will fight for more in the other competitions. This is a great day for Slovakia and also my university," she said.

Two days after securing a clean-sweep in the men's cross country sprint, Russia posted its latest one-two-three by dominating the men's 10km biathlon sprint in Osrblie.

Iaroslav Ivanov took the gold medal in a time of 23:17.3, beating compatriots Maksim Burtasov and Yuri Shopin by 13.4 and 14.9 seconds respectively. The Czech Republic's Krcmar Burtasov came closest to breaking Russia's iron grip on proceedings, skiing home in fourth place just over nine seconds later.

"Everything went as we had planned. I am very happy and it's an excellent result for Russia," said silver medallist Burtasov.

Russia's lead at the top of the medal table was also strengthened by gold and bronze medals in the women's individual ski jumping Normal Hill event at Štrbské Pleso.

Thanks to a second jump of 95.5m - the longest in the competition - Irina Avvakumova won the gold medal while compatriot Anastasia Gladyseva took bronze. Japan celebrated its first medal of the games with a silver for Yuka Kobayashi. Avvakumova finished with 223.2 points - well ahead of Kobayashi (198.2 points) and Gladyseva (190.5 points).

"I'm happy with the result - and although I wasn't satisfied with my first jump, the second one was much better and so I'm pleased I put things right," said 23-year-old Avvakumova, a sports science student at Moscow State Academy of Physical Education.

The victory underlines Avvakumova's star potential just over a year after she secured her first senior professional win in Chaykovsky, becoming the first Russian ski jumper (both male and female) to ever win a World Cup event.

Kobayaski was ecstatic to win Japan's first medal of the Winter Universiade but apologised for not pushing Avvakumova closer for the gold. "The difference between first and second place looks huge and I'm sorry for that," she said.

Russia's male ski jumpers were able to add two more medals to their country's kitty in the men's Normal Hill - but the victory eluded them with the gold medal going to Bulgaria's Vladimir Zografski, son of former Olympic ski jumper Emil Zografski and a junior world champion in 2011.

Jumps of 95m and 94m were enough to cap Zografski's return to form and earn him the top step on the podium with 248.8 points. Russians Ilmir Hazetdinov (90/94.5/244.2) and Evgeniy Klimov (92.5/91.5/241.7) flanked him for silver and bronze respectively while another Russian, Mikhail Maksimoczkin, missed out on a medal with 235.3 points for fourth.

Wednesday's programme includes the women's individual 5km cross country skiing, the men's individual 10km cross country skiing and the men's and women's biathlon pursuit events.