Russia enjoyed a strong day in Lillehammer ©Para Snow Sports

Russia won three gold medals as biathlon action began at the opening World Para Nordic Skiing World Cup of the season in Lillehammer.

The country dominated the three days of cross-country held in Norway with 28 medals and again shone on a day of individual races.

Stanislav Chokhlaev won the men's visually impaired title with a clean-shooting display, clocking 42min 33.5sec.

He pushed Yury Holub of Belarus into second after he missed three targets in a time of 43:01.5, while Russia's Nikolai Polukhin shot clean in third with a time of 45:52.5.

The women's visually impaired title also went to Russia with the country occupying the top four positions.

All of the medallists were perfect with the rifle, with gold going to Anna Panferova in 48:07.9.

Vera Khlyzova added to her two cross-country titles with silver in 49:43.5 and Mikhalina Lysova took bronze in 52:15.3.

In the men's individual standing, Russia's Vladislav Lekomtsev missed a single shot en-route to victory in 40:43.5.

Frenchman Benjamin Daviet shot clean but had to make do with silver in 40:46.6, while Ukraine's bronze medallist Ihor Reptyukh also did not miss, timing in at 40:51.6.

Ukraine achieved a 1-2-3 in the women's standing ©Para Snow Sports
Ukraine achieved a 1-2-3 in the women's standing ©Para Snow Sports

Ukraine, Germany and the United States also collected victories today.

Oleksandra Kononova led a clean sweep of the podium for Ukraine in the women's standing, missing one shot in a time of 50:25.7.

Yuliia Batenkova-Bauman missed two shots in second place with her time of 52:15.3 and Bohdana Konashuk took bronze with one missed shot, clocking 52:18.0.

In sitting competition Martin Fleig won men's gold for Germany with a perfect shooting record in 41:54.7.

Taras Rad of Ukraine took silver, missing one shot in 41:55.1, while Canada's Collin Cameron also failed once as he ended in 42:00.8 for bronze.

American Kendall Gretsch captured the women's sitting title by shooting clean in a time of 45:12.5.

Her compatriot and triple cross-country winner Oksana Masters missed once to earn silver in 46:25.5, as Marta Zainullina of Russia failed twice in 49:36.2 in third.

Sprint biathlon will conclude the World Cup tomorrow.

Lillehammer, the host of the 1994 Winter Olympics and Paralympics, is preparing to host the 2021 Para Snow Sports World Championships.