“This is my first world cup medal... I couldn't be more happy!” That was the first comment of today's 25m Pistol Women event winner, Monika Karsch, from Germany.
The 31-year old shooter finished the qualifications in first with 588 points (296 Precision, 292 Rapid Fire), and then led the semi-finals with 21 hits.
“I was a bit nervous going into the semi-final. During the qualifications I shot my best Precision score, and I knew I had to give my best to make it through to the medal matches.” Karsch said.
In the Gold medal match, she met the 2008 Olympic Silver medallist Gundegmaa Otryad, of Mongolia, beating her 7 to 5 point, to secure her first world cup medal ever. The German shooter had finished in the spotlights at the 2013 European Championship, where she ended up on her first international podium winning the Bronze.
“I have been shooting for years, and this is my first world cup medal. It comes in the right moment, right ahead of the world championship.” Karsch said, mentioning the forthcoming 51st ISSF World Championship, that will be held in Granada, Spain, starting from September 7.
Otryad (36) walked out of the match with the Silver medal, secured with 21 hits in the semi-final and 5 points in the medal match. The 5-time Olympian had won the previous world cup stage, in Munich, last week, confirming to be one of the strongest pistol shooters of the world.
Today, she was followed by Antoaneta Boneva, 28, the Bulgarian athlete who won of the Bronze medal match beating Hungary's Renata Tobai Sike by 7 to 5 points after clearing the semi-final with 18 hits.