Russia’s Andreeva, Japan’s Kubo lead biathlon World Cup

After two events, Russia is dominating the biathlon rankings ahead of the Sochi 2012-2013 World Cup Finals, which will also be a Paralympic Games Test Event. 22 Jan 2013

Russia's Nadezda Andreeva arrives at Heathrow airport ahead of London 2012 Paralympic Games

Russia's Nadezda Andreeva competed in rowing at London 2012 and aims to compete in nordic skiing at Sochi 2014

ⒸGetty Images

By IPC

For full results, please visit the IPC Nordic Skiing calendar and results page.

After two events in Vuokatti, Finland, and Cable, Wisconsin, USA, Russia are leading the biathlon rankings with 3910 points. Ukraine are second on 1723 points, and USA are in third place with 1366. Japan are just behind on 1302.

Japan’s sit-skier Kozo Kubo is ranked first overall for the men’s biathlon events with 440 world cup points, having won all three biathlon events in Cable, Wisconsin, USA held from 17-20 January 2013.

Canada’s standing skier Mark Arendz is ranked second overall with 365 World Cup points. He won the men’s short distance biathlon standing, and came second to Norway’s Nils-Erik Ulset in the middle and long-distance races.

Sweden’s visually impaired skier Zebastian Modin is ranked second with 340 points, having won all three events in Cable.

In the women’s overall rankings, the points-difference is much closer. Russia’s sit-skier Nadezda Andreeva leads the way with 368 points. She won all three races in Cable, with USA’s Kristina Vaughn coming second in the women’s long and short distance biathlon sitting races, and Germany’s Anja Wicker taking second in the middle distance.

Russian standing skier, Anna Milenina is ranked second overall with 366 points. She won the long and middle distance biathlon standing races, and came second to Japan’s Shoko Ota in the short distance. Ota is ranked third overall with 345 biathlon World Cup points.

Here’s a look at the top three leaders in each biathlon category:

Men

Sitting

1. Kozo Kubo, (Japan): 440

2. Andrew Soule (USA): 223

3. Ramil Ilalutdinov (Russia): 215

Standing

1. Mark Arendz (Canada): 365

2. Nils-Erik Ulset (Norway): 333

3. Keiichi Sato (Japan): 185

Visually impaired

1. Zebastian Modin (Sweden): 340

2. Kevin Burton (USA): 240

3. Nikolay Polukhin (Russia): 200

Women

Sitting

1. Nadezda Andreeva (Russia): 368

2. Kristina Vaughn (USA): 220

3. Anja Wicker (Germany): 165

Standing

1. Anna Milenina (Russia): 366

2. Shoko Ota (Japan): 245

3. Momoko Dekijima (Japan): 236

Visually impaired

1. Margarita Gorbounova (Canada): 300

2. Mikhalina Lysova (Russia): 200

3. Iuliia Budaleeva (Russia): 160

For full results, please visit the IPC Nordic Skiing calendar and results page.

The races are a significant indicator of form ahead of the 2013 IPC Nordic Skiing World Championships, to be held in Solleftea, Sweden, from 23 February to 5 March.