The 32-year-old secured her second title of the event as he finished with a total of 1,346 points to beat Annika Schleu of Germany and Marie Oteiza of France, silver and bronze medallists respectively.

Prokopenko, part of the Belarusian team which won the relay earlier at the Championships in the Mexican capital, started the laser run 60 seconds behind Oteiza but gradually made her way through the field.

She crossed the line in second place having completed the course in 12min 08.23sec.

Prokopenko ended 14 points ahead of Oteiza, who finished down in 26th in the laser run, while Schleu was a further three points adrift of the victorious Belarusian's total.

"It’s a good job, because in my heart I believed it but, looking at my starting number, I didn’t believe it," said Prokopenko.

"It’s fantastic.

"My shooting was fantastic and my running was very, very fast, and I believed it.

"I didn’t see Annika, I only looked at my target and my shooting, and when I left the range I thought ‘what? I’m first?'

"It was my day, and I just ran and ran. 

"It’s my first World Championships gold medal."

All five events took place inside the same stadium in a format which will be replicated at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.

The event concludes tomorrow with the men's individual final.