Vuokatti staged its first day of World Para Nordic Skiing World Cup biathlon races after four days of cross-country competitions ©World Para Nordic Skiing

Russian Vladislav Lekomtsev claimed his fifth successive gold in Vuokatti as he starred on the first of two days of biathlon races at the World Para Nordic Skiing World Cup.

After winning gold in four cross-country distances, Lekomtsev continued his fine form as he topped the standings in the men’s standing biathlon sprint competition at the Finnish venue.

The 26-year-old, a double biathlon gold medallist at the Sochi 2014 Winter Paralympics, led a Russian podium sweep as he won the 6-kilometres race in 15min 29.3sec.

Vitalii Malyshev came second in 16:02.3 with Ivan Kodlozerov third in 16:13.2.

Ivan Golubkov of Russia also backed up his three cross-country golds by winning a biathlon title as he won the men’s 6km sitting contest in 19:02.3.

His time was enough to beat compatriot Danila Britik and Ukrainian Taras Rad, who clocked 19:17.0 and 19:32.9, respectively.

The third Russian gold medallist of the day was Vera Khlyzova, who came out on top in the women’s visually impaired 6km final.

Khlyzova, with guide Natalia Iakimova, won the race in 18:21.9 ahead of Belarusian Sviatlana Sakhanenka and her guide Dzmitry Budzilovich, who crossed the line in 19:11.0.

The bronze medal was won by Russia’s Iuliia Smirnova with guide Eduard Berezin after finishing in 19:24.1.

Liudmyla Liashenko won the the women’s 6km biathlon standing final in Vuokatti ©Getty Images
Liudmyla Liashenko won the the women’s 6km biathlon standing final in Vuokatti ©Getty Images

Belarussian Yury Holub and guide Uladzimir Chapelin triumphed in the men’s visually impaired 6km race in a time of 15:38.9.

Holub finished ahead of two Russians as Stanislav Chokhlaev with guide Oleg Kolodiichuk clinched silver in 15:47.7, just two hundredths of a second ahead of Nikolai Polukhin with guide Eduard Berezin.

Liudmyla Liashenko defeated Ukrainian team mate Iuliia Batenkova-Bauman to win the women’s 6km standing event.

Liashenko finished in 17:56.6 as Batenkova-Bauman had to settle for silver in 18:24.9.

Ekaterina Rumyantseva denied Oleksandra Kononova an all-Ukrainian podium as the Russian clinched bronze in 19:01.4.

Five Russians finished in the top six of the women’s 6km sitting final but it was Germany’s Anja Wicker who was crowned champion.

Wicker took victory in 21:57.1 ahead of Natalia Kocherova and Irina Guliaeva, who came home in 22:32.8 and 22:38.7, respectively.

Action is due to conclude in Vuokatti tomorrow with six biathlon races.