Home Pro Italian responds to Rio 2016 snub by winning double trap gold at ISSF Shotgun World Cup

Italian responds to Rio 2016 snub by winning double trap gold at ISSF Shotgun World Cup

0

Italy’s Alessandro Chianese earned the first gold medal of the International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) Shotgun World Cup in Nicosia, triumphing in the men’s double trap final.

The 25-year-old headed into the competition at the Nicosia Olympic Shooting Range in Cyprus’ capital with a point to prove having missed out on being selected in the Italian team for this year’s Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro.

He started in ideal fashion by ensuring that he would claim the first World Cup medal of his career by progressing through the six-man semi-final.

Both Chianese and the United States’ Jeffrey Holguin progressed to the gold medal contest after four-way shoot-off involving Germany’s Andreas Loew and Australia’s James Willett also hitting 28 targets in the three rounds.

Holguin was favoured to claim the gold medal but the 2014 ISSF World Cup title winner missed three shots during the final, finishing with 27 hits.

His rival Chianese held his nerve to achieve one more target and claim the win.

“The Rio 2016 Olympic team has already been picked and I am not in,” Chianese said

“But nevertheless I tried to do my best here.

“We are professionals and we love our sport, so we always aim at the best performance.”

Willet, the 2015 Oceania Championship winner, earned his first World Cup podium after hitting 26 targets in the bronze medal contest.

Germany’s Loew missed out on a medal after missing one more target.

The World Cup are due to continue tomorrow with the men’s skeet final.

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.