Barbara Engleder, previously competing with her maiden name Lechner, won the 50m Rifle 3 Positions women final, today, shooting at the ISSF World Cup in all events in London, in the frame of the “London Prepares” Olympic test events.
The 29-year old German shooter entered into the match in the lead with 586 points, and two points of advantage on her followers. Then, scoring 100.1 points in the final match, she closed the round in first with an overall score of 686.1 points and one point of advantage on the Silver medallist, Austria’s Obermoser.
“I hope I will repeat this in August!” The German shooter said smiling.
“This is a beautiful venue, it’s a great facility. Of course it has been cold and windy in these days, which is not nice. But that turned into an advantage to me, as I am good in shooting in the wind.” Barbara Engleder said.
Qualified for the Olympics, the German reigning world champion and 2011 ISSF World Cup Final winner is now looking forward to the XXX Olympic Games. “I hope I will be in the same conditions at Games time. I will come here, shoot my match and leave. I am not planning to come here many days in advance.”
The Silver medallist, Austria’s Stephanie Obermoser, a first time world cup finalist, did not expect such a result, today. Entering the match in fourth with 583 points, she climbed up shooting 102.1 points in the final, closing the match with 685.1 points. “It feels great to win a medal on the lines of the Olympic venue. I really did not expect it!” she said.
“I will now compete in both the ISSF World Cup Stages in Milan and Munich, preparing at my best for the Olympic Games. I will compete both in the 10m Air Rifle Women event and in the 50m Rifle 3 Positions Women event.” The 23-year old first time medallist said.
Climbing to the Silver position, Obermoser upset the 2008 Olympic Chmapion, China’s Du Li, who secured the Bronze medal with 684.2 points after entering the final in second place with 584 points. She was followed by her teammate Yi Siling, fourth with 683.3 points, and by Russia’s Lioubov Galkina, fifth with 683.1 points.
The second German finalist, Eva Friedel, shot today’s second highest score in the final, 101.1 points. Climbing up fro the eight place, she chased a spot on the podium right to the last competition shot, when she fired a frustrating 8.5-point shot which landed her in sixth place with a total score of 680.1 points. Coming in seventh behind her, Sweden’s 30-year old Linda Olofsson closed in seventh with 678.1 points, followed by France’s Laurence Brize with 673.7 points.