The new biathlon year begins with bad news for the highly regarded women’s team of Sweden. At the World Cup in Pokljuka, Slovenia, Hanna Öberg will be missing from the squad. The 27-year-old has been suffering from a stubborn cold for almost two weeks and canceled her start.
On Monday, the Swedish Biathlon Association published its squad list for the upcoming World Cup in Pokljuka. With Hanna Öberg, one of the most well-known names is missing. The two-time Olympic champion will miss the races in Slovenia due to a cold, as Öberg confirmed to the broadcaster “SVT”.
“Of course it’s a pity that I miss the first World Cup after Christmas. But I still haven’t started to train fully since my cold,” she said.
Öberg is just one of many prominent “victims” on the Swedish biathlon team. A few days ago, Sebastian Samuelsson also reported persistent complaints that put him out of action for a long time.
In addition, Anna Magnussen caught a corona infection shortly before Christmas. She was also unable to train for a long time, but will be back in Pokljuka.
Also on board is Mona Brorsson. The 32-year-old suffered from a cold at the beginning of the season and was then dropped from the squad in the first World Cups. After a few appearances in the IBU Cup, she celebrates her World Cup debut this year in Pokljuka.
“I’m looking forward to my return and I’m happy that I get the trust of the sporting management. After my difficult start, the training over Christmas went well,” Brorsson described her progress.
The World Cup weekend in Slovenia starts on Thursday. The first race is the women’s sprint. Start is at 2:20 p.m.