MOSCOW, January 22, Pavel Levkovich. Former head coach of the Russian national biathlon team Anatoly Khovantsev said that Anton Babikov and Eduard Latypov did not cope with shooting in the mass start at the World Cup stage in Antholz. Benedikt Doll won the Saturday mass start. With four penalties, Babikov finished 10th, while Latypov finished 25th with eight penalties. The mass start was Latypov's first World Cup race since 19 December. The Russian missed two stages due to the coronavirus. «Only Latypov and Babikov ran today, both of them failed to shoot. Eduard, of course, the race was very tense for him. The rest did not start, I don’t know if this is right or not. Now preparations are underway for the Olympics and everyone is solving their problems,» Khovantsev said. «The coaches need to urgently deal with Latypov's condition and decide about the relay race. After the illness, it is very difficult to talk about the return of Eduard's ideal form. five people, or four, because Latypov will not find his form. Again, the issue for the coaches is very complex and serious, «added Khovantsev.
