Domracheva displays powerful comeback to win mass start

Belarusian Darya Domracheva brought about another of her classic comebacks to win the women's 12.5K mass start at BMW IBU World Cup Biathlon 5 in Ruhpolding, Germany on 18 January.

The Belarusian clocked 35:17.5, with three penalties.

Second went to Germany's Franziska Preuss, with two penalties, 16.5 seconds back, while Veronika Vitkova of Czech Republic finished third, with three penalties, 22.9 seocnds back.

It is the third medal for Darya Domracheva at BMW IBU World Cup Biathlon 5 in Ruhpolding. She claimed silver in the 7.5K Sprint and 4x6K Relay.

Belarusian Nadezhda Skardino finished 19th in the 18 January mass start, 1:20 minutes back with three penalties.

Domracheva took an early lead in the race until she approached the first prone to miss one target. Although the penalty loop threw the athlete back to the 19th position, Darya was going some 20 seconds behind the leader. Shooting clean Nadezhda Skardino left the first shooting stage in 6th. Domracheva's speed and flawless performance at the second prone brought the athlete back to the list of medal hopefuls. Nadezhda Skardino had one penalty and lost her position in the top ten.

Domracheva had two penalties in the first standing and fell back again, with Russia's Yekaterina Glazyrina taking the lead. Domracheva was fast to catch up with the Russian and flew past her to regain the lead. With quick and precise shooting, the Belarusian headed for victory. Nadezhda Skardino shot clean in the first standing, but missed two targets in the final shooting stage.

Kaisa Makarainen of Finland, the leader of the IBU World Cup overall standings, finished 7th, 40.6 seconds back, with four penalties. The Finnish biathlete still leads the table with 558 points. Darya Domracheva goes second with 500 points, Ukraine's Valentina Semerenko is third (452). Nadezhda Skardino is currently 18th with 250 points.