Svendsen seals first World Cup crystal globe in Russia

NORWAY'S Emil Hegle Svendsen lifted his first overall biathlon World Cup crystal globe at the final race of the season in Khanty-Mansiysk.

FIRST WORLD CUP: Norway's Emil Hegle Svendsen lifts the overall World Cup title for the first time in his career after finishing above Christoph Sumann in Russia (Getty Images)

The 24-year old finished 14th on the day in Russia, 1:12. 8 minutes down on Austria's Dominik Landertinger, who struck his first World Cup win of the season.

But Svendsen, who struck two golds and silver at his debut Winter Olympics in Vancouver last month, only had to beat another Austrian, Christoph Sumann to secure the title.

It looked like the Norwegian, who sealed the sprint World Cup on Friday in Russia, was going to capture the crystal globe in style as he came into the final shoot in the front group.

Two misses cost the Norwegian as the majority of the rest of the group skied clear with Landertinger taking the win ahead of Germany's Arnd Peiffer and Norway's Halvard Hanevold.

But Sumann, who had already skied a couple of penalty loops before his final visit to the range, couldn't take advantage at the death and missed twice himself, leaving himself 36.5 seconds to catch up in the final lap.

And the Austrian was helpless to cut the gap, eventually falling back another 17.9 to finish 23rd.