Ostersund 2020: Ones to Watch - Women's sitting events

Para biathletes will have the stage all to themselves at their sport’s first standalone World Championships beginning 12 March in Ostersund, Sweden.

Amid the 104 athletes expected, here are two to who are expected to be on the podium of the women's sitting events.

Andrea Eskau (GER) vs. Oksana Masters (USA)

The women’s sitting will test youth and experience, featuring German veteran Andrea Eskau and one of the USA’s high-profile athletes Oksana Masters. Masters won all but one of her biathlon events – the long distance – at the last World Championships in Prince George, Canada.

She will face 48-year-old Eskau, who won all but one of her biathlon races – the sprint - at the PyeongChang 2018 Paralympic Winter Games. Although Eskau has only competed in one World Cup this season compared to Masters, it is all the more a surprise to see if she can make up for her three bronze medals from Prince George 2019.

Masters will arrive in Ostersund with extra motivation after winning the 2020 Laureus Awards as the Sportsperson of the Year with a Disability. 

USA's World No.1 Kendall Gretsch will not be in Sweden as she will try to qualify for the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games in triathlon.

Find more about Andrea Eskau here.

Find more about Oksana Masters here.

The 2019-2020 Para biathlon rankings are available on the World Para Nordic Skiing website.