Russian Paralympic champion Vladislav Lekomtcev claimed victory in the 7.5 kilometres three lap race in 18:46.2, ahead of Norway's Nils Erik Ulset in 19:29.4 and Ukraine's Ihor Reptyukh in third with 19:41.9.

There was an all-Russian podium in the men's sitting, with Aleksandr Davidovich, Alexey Bychenok and Ivan Golubkov taking first, second and third place respectively.

Another Russian, Marta Zaynullina, also claimed victory in the women's 6km sitting sprint, while team mate Svetlana Konovalova took second place and Belarus' Lidziya Hrafeyeva was third.

Further Russian success came in the women's visually impaired as Sochi 2014 silver medallist Iuliia Budaleeva and guide Tatiana Maltseva led home the field, while compatriot Elena Remizova and guide Maksim Pirogov were second, and Ukraine's Oksana Shyshkova and guide L Nesterenko came third.

Maija Järvelä claimed the host nation's only podium finish of the day when she came second in the women's standing ©Getty Images


Meanwhile, France's Thomas Clarion and guide Julien Clarion won the men's visually impaired race in 20:01.4.

This time Russia, in the form of Stanislav Chokhlaev and guide Evgenii Fatkhullin, had to settle for second place, while Ukraine's Iurii Utkin and guide Vitalii Kazakov came third.

There was a shock in the women's standing when Russian Paralympic champion Alena Kaufman could only manage a third place finish as victory went to Ukrainian Vancouver 2010 Paralympic gold medallist Oleksandra Kononova.

Maija Järvelä came second to claim the host nation's only podium finish of the day.

Competition will continue tomorrow with the biathlon individual events.

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