ROSA KHUTOR, Russia, March 8 (R-Sport) – Host nation Russia won its first gold medal at the Sochi Paralympics on Saturday with victory for Roman Petushkov in the men’s 7.5km sitting biathlon.
The 35-year-old Petushkov went one better than the silver he won in the 15km four years ago, winning by 8.2 seconds from Maksym Yarovyi of Ukraine.
"I dedicate this medal to my mother and my family. I give my thanks to my mother for caring for me when I was in the hospital," said Petushkov, who was left a double amputee after a 2006 accident.
Yarovyi said he was delighted to win a medal on his Paralympic debut, especially given the unrest in his native Ukraine.
"It was very difficult, because I wasn't at home for four months," he said. "The greatest present after this difficult preparation is my medal."
Japan took its first medal of the Games as Kozo Kubo took bronze, 41.9 seconds off the pace.
"I trained really hard for the last four years and today it paid off," Kubo said. "I think that I raced and shot well today but I still came third."
There was disappointment for four-time Paralympic gold medalist Irek Zaripov of Russia, who earned four penalty loops for missed shots and trailed in 10th.
"Something didn't work out for me today with the shooting," Zaripov told R-Sport. "My shots were going to the left."
The race used so-called “calculated time,” in which each athlete’s time is modified by a percentage reflecting the extent of their disability.
Four more biathlon gold medals are on offer in events later in the day.
The story was updated with quotes, background.
