Anastasia Kuzmina of Slovakia extended her lead at the top of the overall standings with victory in the women's sprint ©Getty Images

Anastasia Kuzmina of Slovakia extended her lead at the top of the overall International Biathlon Union World Cup standings with victory in the women’s 7.5 kilometres sprint race in Oberhof.

The double Olympic gold medallist secured her third win of the season in a time of 22min 23.7sec.

Reigning Olympic sprint champion Kuzmina, who amassed one penalty, crossed the line in front of Finland’s Kaisa Mäkäräinen.

The Finnish biathlete was 35.4 seconds adrift of the victorious Slovakian, while Veronika Vitkova of the Czech Republic came through to take third.

Kuzmina came into the event in the German resort with just a six-point advantage over nearest challenger Justine Braisaz of France.

Her lead has how grown to 26 as the Slovakian, winner of the 7.5km event at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver and four years later in Sochi, currently has a total of 362 points.

Braisaz, fifth in today’s event, sits second on 336 points, while Mäkäräinen’s result helped her strengthen her position in third.

“I knew that I needed to be very focused on the shooting range,” Kuzmina said.

“After one mistake in the prone position, I was thinking ‘it is still good, it is still good.’

“I knew with one you still have a chance and I tried to concentrate on each shot.

“After the zero, I felt more power and it was just about work on the last loop.

“Like always, it is a really good feeling.

“I was not easy weather conditions for everyone; I just enjoyed the race.”

The first World Cup of the year continues tomorrow with the men's sprint, held over 10km.