Press releases

4 Dec 2025

Belarus’ Smolski claims sprint bronze at Leg 2 of Commonwealth Cup

Anton Smolski. An archive photo

MINSK, 4 December (BelTA) – Belarusian biathlete Anton Smolski made it into the top three in the sprint at the second leg of the Commonwealth Cup in Russia’s Khanty-Mansiysk, BelTA has learned.

One hundred biathletes took part in the men’s sprint race. The top athlete of the Belarusian national team had a single shooting error but still managed to cross the line in third place. Smolski finished just two seconds behind Russia’s Kirill Bazhin in the tight contest for silver, with Bazhin beating Alexander Loginov to the podium. The win, however, went decisively to Eduard Latypov, who finished a commanding 44 seconds clear.

Two more representatives of our country made it into the top ten: Ivan Tulatsin and Mikita Labastau took eighth and ninth places, respectively, both having cleared all their targets on the shooting range. A total of 15 Belarusians competed in the race. Also shooting clean, Aleksandr Golyak finished 12th, Maksim Varabei – 18th, Ilya Auseyenka – 21st, Dzmitry Lazouski – 26th, Pavel Belko – 41st, Gleb Orlovsky – 48th, Vitaly Kazachenok – 54th, Andrei Gavrosh – 59th, Kirill Baburov – 62nd, Aleksei Logvinov – 63rd, Stsiapan Danilau – 71st, and Denis Yeremov – 91st.

Earlier on 4 December, Dzinara Smolskaya won gold and Hanna Sola clinched bronze in the women’s sprint. The program of the second Commonwealth Cup stage will continue with mass start races on Friday: the women’s race begins at 9.30 a.m. Minsk time, and the men’s starts at 1 p.m. The competitions in Khanty-Mansiysk will conclude with a mixed relay on 6 December.