Prokopenko, whose victory in 2018 was followed by gold for team mate Volha Silkina in 2019 - the last edition held - earned 1353 points to finish clear of France’s Rio 2016 silver medallist Elodie Cloudel, who finished on 1341.

For Clouvel, and Hungary's bronze medallist Michelle Gulyas of Hungary, who totalled 1339, there was the additional prize of a quota place for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, 

Germany’s Annika Schleu was fourth on 1330 and Italy’s Elena Micheli was fifth on 1324.

Gulyas had led into the concluding laser run as leader with 804 points from Clouvel, who had 798, and Ukraine’s Iryna Khokhlova.

But the 35-year-old 2018 world champion, who won bronze at the Beijing 2008 Olympics, moved to the top of the podium after completing the combined shooting and running element in 11min 59.80sec, more than 13 seconds clear of the next best time by Lithuania’s London 2012 champion Laura Asadauskaite, who finished tenth overall on 1303.

This final event before the Tokyo 2020 Olympics offered places at the Games for all individual medallists in the main men’s and women’s races not already qualified, as well as vital ranking points for the entire field.

A total of 23 women and 23 men have already secured a quota place for their countries at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.

Automatic spots are available to World Championship medallists according to the criteria set out in the UIPM qualification process.

The women’s event was weakened by the late, enforced withdrawal of the British team due to a change in its Government’s travel restrictions which put Egypt onto the red list.

That meant a strong contingent including Kate French, who won the World Cup final for a second time in her career, was unable to compete.