The Otepää World Cup event in Estonia will culminate on Sunday with a mixed relay race, where the notable Estonian duo of Johanna Talihärm and Mark-Markos Kehva will compete. Talihärm enters the race with a less than stellar performance in the women's sprint, finishing near the bottom of the rankings, while Kehva placed 56th in the chasing start event. Despite these results, there is anticipation surrounding their collaborative effort in the mixed relay, which holds significance for Estonian biathlon as the country has seen notable success in these events historically.

The mixed relay race is particularly focused on the Estonian team, especially considering the success of previous years, such as when Regina Ermits and Rene Zahkna secured a second-place finish at the Pokljuka World Cup in 2020. In this competition, the Estonian team will face stiff competition, especially from Finland, which boasts talented competitors like Suvi Minkkinen and Tero Seppälä, who achieved commendable results in previous events. However, both of these Finnish athletes have faced challenges at Otepää, with Minkkinen failing to make the cut in the chasing start, raising questions about their current form.

Norway is also expected to be a strong contender in the mixed relay, represented by Sturla Holm Laegreid and Karoline Knotten. The competitive nature of the mixed relay, coupled with the pressure from historical precedents, means the race will be closely watched by fans and analysts alike. The outcome could have implications not just for individual athletes, but also for the national pride of Estonia in the context of international biathlon competitions.