He had won his last medal in 2009, he came back atop of the podium today in Changwon, securing a Rio 2016 qualification spot for his country.
Hui Zicheng (25) from the People's Republic of China won the last match of the 2015 ISSF Rifle and Pistol World Cup in Changwon (KOR), the men's 50m rifle 3 positions final.
The Chinese athlete claimed the brightest medal and a Rio 2016 Olympic quota place with 457.3 points, beating USA's Matthew Emmons and South Korea's Han Jinseop.
“I am proud about winning an Olympic quota place for my country. I hope I will be representing China at the next Games, that's my dream.” Hui said after celebrating with his teammates at the award ceremony.
“All my family is into shooting sport: my father, my uncle, my little brother. It's our family passion, it must be in our blood. I wish my little brother could win international medals soon.”
The young Chinese athlete is not new to the podium. During his only international season, in 2009, he won two world cup golds, and placed sixth at the 2009 ISSF World Cup Final in Wuxi, China.
Since then, he disappeared from the international scene. Not a single world cup participation, not one entry at continental championships.
“I competed internationally in 2009 only, achieving good results. But then I stopped for some years as I dedicated myself to my University studies. I did not have time to keep up with the work required to a professional athlete.”
But shooting sport is an addictive sport, as many use to say. So after a five-year stop, Hui went back to the range, and started training again. “As I graduated, I found out that I was missing all those nice feelings of competitive sport, so I decided to come back.”
“It feels awesome to win Gold in my first international match in six years.” He concluded.
The 2012 Olympic Bronze medallist in this event, USA's Matthew Emmons (34) took today's Silver securing his second world cup medal of the week after winning the men's 50m rifle prone event three days ago here in Changwon, when he also claimed a Rio 2016 Olympic quota place.
Emmons led the match through the first two Kneeling-position series, but then fired a disappointing 7.4 on his third series that pulled him down in third. With some good Prone-position series, he moved up in second place with 309.2 points, and eventually scored a total of 456.0 points to climb upon the second step of today's podium.
South Korea's Han Jinseop (33), followed Emmons taking the Bronze with 445.1 points.
The second Olympic Quota place to be awarded to day went to Norway's Ole Kristian Bryhn (25), fourth today with 433.8 points.
The reigning Olympic Champion, Italy's Niccolò Campriani of Italy (27), scored a frustrating 6.9 on his first Standing-position series, which landed him in eighth place with a final score of 398.0 points.
The men's 50m rifle 3 positions final concluded the 2015 ISSF World Cup in Rifle and Pistol events in Changwon. The ISSF World Cup Series will now continue in Larnaca, Cyprus, where a Shotgun World Cup stage will be held from 24th of April through the 4th of May.