Russia's Ekaterina Yurlova secured victory in the women's 10km pursuit event ©Getty Images

Russia’s Ekaterina Yurlova-Percht shot clean in the final standing stage to help her clinch the gold medal in the women’s 10 kilometres pursuit event at the International Biathlon Union (IBU) World Cup in Antholz today.

The reigning 15km individual world champion amassed one penalty as she finished the course in Italy in a time of 30min 07.3sec to beat Selina Gasparin of Switzerland by 12 seconds.

Italy’s Dorothea Wierer, second in the sprint race earlier on Thursday (January 21), rounded off the podium as she came through to take third, despite incurring three penalties.

Norwegian Olympic mixed relay champion Tiril Eckhoff narrowly missed out on a medal as she was fourth.

The result saw Yurlova-Percht move up to 25th on the overall World Cup standings still led by the Czech Republic's Gabriela Soukalová, who was seventh today, on 679 points.

Frenchwoman Marie Dorin Habert remains her closest challenger as is 88 points adrift in second place.

“I did not think I would be on the podium; I did not prepare for it,” Yurlova said.

“I just needed to do good work on the skis and shooting today and that would be good enough.

“Regardless of the results, I always try to stay smiling."

Russia’s Olga Podchufarova, winner of the gold medal in the sprint event in Antholz earlier in the week, and Wierer were the early pace-setters as they shot clean to begin to move clear of the rest of the field.

Anton Shipulin completed the Russian double as he won the men's 12.5km pursuit event ©Getty Images
Anton Shipulin completed the Russian double as he won the men's 12.5km pursuit event ©Getty Images

The Italian briefly took the lead before she picked up two penalties, allowing the Russian to regain her advantage.

Podchufarova faltered slightly, however, though eventual winner Yurlova remained 40 seconds behind before she cleaned in the final standing phase to help her to a superb victory.

In the men’s 12.5km race, Russia's Anton Shipulin sealed his first win of the season as he clocked 31:51.9, despite being given two penalties, to defeat Germany’s Simon Schempp.

Norway's world sprint champion Johannes Thingnes Bø did enough to secure the bronze medal.

Frenchman Martin Fourcade, the defending World Cup title holder and current leader, finished fourth but was able to extend his advantage on the standings to 161 points ahead of Norway's Tarjei Bø.

Shipulin’s win moves him into third place on 514 points.

The event in Antholz is due to conclude tomorrow with the women’s 4x6km relay and men’s 7.5km relay.