Eckhoff had secured two victories in Oberhof last week, during the first of back-to-back World Cup legs in the German town.

She was able to repeat her 7.5km sprint success today, despite one shooting penalty during the race.

The Norwegian star completed the event in a winning time of 22min 33.8sec.

"Today I felt it was a very good biathlon race," Eckhoff said.

"I was in very good shape and very good mentally.

"My trainer always says to me you have to have much better confidence, because you can win with one mistake.

"That is something not everybody can do.

"Today I did that again and I am very happy for that."

Reigning World Cup champion Dorothea Wierer was left settling for second place, finishing 9.3 behind the winner.

The Italian biathlete had shot clean at the two shooting stations during the race.

The podium was completed by Austria’s Lisa Theresa Hauser, who finished 12.6 behind Eckhoff after shooting clean.

Victory moves Eckhoff closer to her fellow Norwegian Marte Olsbu Røiseland, who currently tops the World Cup standings on 543 points.

Eckhoff lies second on 526 with Sweden’s Hanna Öberg third on 502.

Competition is scheduled to continue tomorrow with the men’s 4x7.5km relay competition, with the women’s 4.6km relay event following on Saturday (January 16).

Men’s and women’s mass start races will bring the World Cup event to a close on Sunday (January 17).