The first Gold medal of the 2015 ISSF Shotgun World Championship in Lonato, Italy, was won by Spain's Fatima Galvez (28), who secured the women's Trap title by winning a neck and neck gold medal match against Russia's Elena Tkach (45), with a score of 11 to 9 hits, today.
Galvez had narrowly qualified for the final by passing through a six-way shoot-off with 69+5 hits. Then, she cleared the semi-final with 12 hits, before meeting Tkach in the final duel for the brightest medal.
The Spanish shooter had already won an ISSF medal here in Lonato, 10 years ago, when she became junior world champion at the age of 18.
“I can't believe it, this match has been incredible. I made it to the final through a shoot-off, and then I managed to climb atop of the scoreboard. I am speechless,” the Spanish athlete said.
“I love this shooting range. It's one of the best in the world, but still it's a challenging one, it wouldn't forgive any mistake. I won a junior world championship here ten years ago, this is must be my lucky place,” Galvez added. “I want to win a Rio 2016 medal. I am going for it.”
Elena Tkach (45) won Silver, pocketing her fourth world championship medal after a gold in 2002 and two bronzes in 2011 and 2013. The Russian athlete, ranked 13th in the world, also claimed a Rio 2016 quota place. After qualifying with 71 hits, she shuttered 11 clays in the semi-final and then beat Egypt's Maggy Ashmawy and Pak Yong Hui of People's Republic of Korea in a three-way shoot-off to access the medal match.
“I’m not happy about my final, I performed badly, even though I wasn’t nervous at all during the in the last round. I was more nervous during the semifinal and during the shoot-off to enter the Gold medal match.”
“But today's most important thing is the Olympic quota. I am definitely excited for winning it.” Added the Russian shooter, who participated in two Olympic editions in 2000 and 2012, and is now looking forward to Rio.
Pak Yong Hui (PRK) claimed today's Bronze medal and the second Olympic quota to be awarded. The 45-year old athlete met and beat Egypt's 22-year old Maggy Ashmawy - a first-time world championship participant – with a net score of 12 to 6 hits in the bronze medal match. They both had qualified for the final phases of the competition with 70 hits, and then hit 11 clays in the semi-final.
“It feels great, but with the Gold medal it would have been even better. I was here to win the Gold medal, and despite the good result and the Olympic quota I am still a bit disappointed.” Pak said after the award ceremony. “Nevertheless, I feel very proud because I will represent our country. And I will be there to improve myself and win the Gold medal for my country.”
Australia's Laetisha Scanlan (25) and New Zeland's Natalie Ellen Rooney took the fifth and sixth places, respectively, with 10 hits in the semi-final.
Great Britain won the teams competition (where the qualification scores of the team's three athletes are summed to form the team's score). Charlotte Kerwood, Kristy Barr and Abbey Ling scored a total of 203 clays, finishing two targets ahead of team Finland (Marika Salmi, Noora Antikainen, Satu Makela-Nummela) – second with 201 hits. The Russian Federation followed in third with 200 hits, scored by today's winner Tkach and her teammates Ekaterina Rabaya and Tatiana Barsuk.
Today's turned into a disappointing day for the reigning Olympic Champion Jessica Rossi of Italy. The 23-year old shooter, competing on her home turf, finished in 22nd place with a qualification score of 67 targets (23, 22, 22). Missing the final, she lost her last chance to secure an Olympic quota places for Rio 2016. Italy has now only one quota in the Trap Women event, won by Silvana Stanco at this year's ISSF World Cup in Al Ain (UAE), and it's now up to the team's coach Albano Pera to decide who should use it to compete in Brazil next year.
The 2015 ISSF Shotgun World Championship, held at the Trap Concaverdre Shooting Club of Lonato, Italy, is hosting more than 800 shooters coming from 92 countries between the 10th and the 18th of September. Athletes from all over the world arrived here chasing 10 Rio 2016 Olympic Quota places, in one of the last chances to gain a pass for the next Games.
The competition will continue this afternoon with the junior women's Trap final, starting at 19.00 (GMT+2). Tomorrow, the men's and junior men's Trap finals are scheduled at 17:15 and 18:15 (GMT+2), respectively. The matches will be broadcasted live on www.issf-sports.org