The pair finished third in Tarvisio behind Canada’s Mac Marcoux and guide Jack Leitch, who came first, and Slovakians Jakub Krako and Branislav Brozman, the Sochi 2014 Winter Paralympic champions claiming silver.

Speaking after winning the medal, their first at international level, Bertagnolli and Casal said they were pleased to be able to achieve something good in front of a home crowd following the earthquakes which devastated central Italy on January 18.

"It is very nice to get this medal," Casal said.

"We want to dedicate this result to the victims of the earthquake in central Italy.

"We are happy to do this for Italy."

In the women’s event, Slovakia’s Henrieta Farkasova reclaimed the title she won in 2009 as she came first alongside her guide Natalia Subrtova.

Belgium’s Eleonor Sana, guided by her sister Chloe, picked up the silver medal and Danelle Umstead and her husband guide Rob of the United States won bronze.

Claudia Loesch claimed some revenge of her Austrian team-mate Anna Schaffelhuber as she won the women’s sitting race, reversing the result from yesterday’s downhill.

Japan’s Momoka Muraoka finished third, just like she did yesterday.

Christoph Kunz of Switzerland pipped New Zealand’s Corey Peters to win the men’s sitting title, while US skier Andrew Kurka came third.

Markus Salcher picked up a second gold medal at the Championships as the Austrian added the men’s standing super-G title to the downhill race he won yesterday.

Arthur Bauchet of France finished a close second and Dutch skier Jeffrey Stuut won bronze.

France’s Marie Bochet continued her fine return to action to win the women’s standing race, having got gold in the downhill as well, with Canadian Alana Ramsay getting silver and Germany’s Andrea Rothfuss bronze.

Action on the Italian slopes is due to return on Saturday (January 28) with the super combined races.

The Championships are scheduled to continue until January 31.