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Norway's Svendsen, Ukraine's Pidhrushna win sprint titles at biathlon worlds

The Associated Press / Times Colonist
February 9, 2013

Winner Emil Hegle Svendsen from Norway, center, is flanked by silver medalist Martin Fourcade of France, left, and bronze winner Jakov Fak of Slovenia during the medal ceremony for the the 10 km sprint at the Biathlon World Championship in Nove Mesto na Morave, the Czech Republic, Saturday, Feb. 9, 2013. (AP Photo/CTK, Roman Vondrous) SLOVAKIA OUT

NOVE MESTO, Czech Republic - Emil Hegle Svendsen won the men's 10-kilometre sprint for his second gold medal at the biathlon world championships, while Olena Pidhrushna of Ukraine triumphed in the women's race on Saturday.

Svendsen overcame one penalty lap to cover the distance in 23 minutes, 25.1 seconds for his second victory in three days, after anchoring Norway to the gold in the mixed relay on Thursday in the opening event of the championships.

"I had a goal on the tracks and on the shooting range today and I did that," Svendsen said. "My goal was to be on the podium more during these championships and I have reached that. Now I am going to have fun for the rest of the week."

Defending champion and overall World Cup leader Martin Fourcade of France finished 8.1 seconds behind for the silver after also missing one target.

"It was the battle I expected," Fourcade said. "I did everything I could do. I hope to beat him tomorrow in the pursuit."

Jakov Fak of Slovenia shot clean to finish 11.2 seconds behind Svendsen in third, while six-time Olympic champion Ole Einar Bjoerndalen of Norway was fourth, 19.9 seconds back.

Pidhrushna shot flawlessly to win the 7.5-kilometre sprint in 21 minutes, 2.1 seconds, edging World Cup leader Tora Berger of Norway who was 6.4 seconds behind for the silver after missing one target.

Pidhrushna's teammate Vita Semerenko got the bronze.

The championships continue with men's and women's pursuit races on Sunday.

© Copyright 2013

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