After multiple appearances in the World Cup semifinals and medal matches, Thailand’s Skeet Women shooter Sutiya Jiewchaloemmit finally secured her first trip to the highest step of the podium. She did it in Rio de Janeiro (BRA), where the ISSF World Cup stage in all events is also serving as a test event for the upcoming Olympic Games.
In the Gold medal match it took a tie-breaking shoot-off for Jiewchaloemmit to prevail over United States’ Kimberly Rhode, after they both closed the final with 15 target hits each. At the fourth additional double, Rhode missed, giving Jiewchaloemmit the chance to hit the Gold medal targets. Which she did.
“I’ve been in so many finals, I got three Silvers, but today, being on top of the podium it is the greatest feeling!” Said the Thai shooter after receiving the Gold medal. “Now I will be in San Marino in June and then I’ll focus on the Olympics.”
“For me, this competition is this competition. The Olympic Games are something different. I’m glad anyway that I did it here in Rio, I did my best and the hard work finally paid off.” She continued.
“It was an honour to compete with Kimberly. She’s the Olympic Champion and an icon of this sport. I truly respect her.” Concluded Jiewchaloemmit.
In the Bronze medal match, China’s Lu Min prevailed over United States’ Amber English, after both of them were beaten by Jiewchaloemmit in a three-way shoot-of to determine the second athlete to enter in the Gold medal final. At the end of the match, with Lu grabbing the Bronze medal in her first participation to a World Cup final phase, the final score was 13-to-12 hits.
5th eliminated after the semifinal round, placed Albina Shakirova of the Russian Federation, who previously advanced with the best qualification score alongside Rhode. Shakirova finished with 11 target hits, the same score recorded by Germany’s Christine Wenzel, European Champion in Maribor (SLO) in 2015, who concluded 6th.
The ISSF World Cup stage in Rio de Janeiro will continue today with the 25m Rapid Fire Pistol Men final, scheduled at 4:45 PM (UTC-3).
News and updates will be available on the ISSF official website and on its social media platforms: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Weibo. While highlights of all the finals will be available on YouTube and Youku.