Svendsen scoops sprint title despite Tcherezov efforts in Russia

RUSSIA'S Ivan Tcherezov won the final biathlon 10km sprint of the season in front of his home crowd in Khanty-Mansiysk but it wasn't enough to stop Norway's Emil Hegle Svendsen lifting the crystal globe. 

CLOSE FINALE: Emil Hegle Svendsen wins the sprint crystal globe but is set for a showdown with Christoph Sumann for the overall title (Getty Images)

The Russian knew he had to win to give himself any chance of lifting the sprint World Cup and he did so in style, shooting clean before skiing home in 24:24.3 minutes, more than 13 seconds clear of the rest of the field.

But while Tcherezov did all he needed to, Olympic individual champion Svendsen - who also scooped silver in the sprint event in Vancouver last month - needed to finish 18th or higher to guarantee the crystal globe.

And the Norwegian never looked in doubt of placing inside the top ten, missing one standing shot but finishing safely in eighth to maintain a ten point lead ahead of the Russian in the sprint standings.

But while Svendsen tied up the sprint crystal globe in Russia, he is far from certain to follow suit with his first overall title.

Italy's Christian de Lorenzi scored his second silver of the season in Khanty-Mansiysk while Ukraine's Andriy Deryzemlya struck his first World Cup podium of the season with bronze.

But Austria's Christoph Sumann finished fourth to tie level with Svendsen in the World Cup standings on 801 points and set up a showpiece finale in Saturday's ultimate race of the season, the 12.5km mass start.