London 2012's Olympic Bronze medallist Vasily Mosin, 42, from the Russian Federation, won today's Double Trap Men Finals at the 2015 ISSF Shotgun World Cup in Al Ain (UAE).
The Russian shooter walked into the Finals with the best qualification score of the day, 143 hits, and passed through the semi-final with a score of 28 targets, making it to the Gold medal match.
There, he met the 2004 ISSF World Cup champion Marco Innocenti, 36, from Italy, who marked a perfect score of 30 hits out of 30 targets in the semi-final after qualifying with 141 clays.
The two Gold medal contenders shot neck and neck right to the end of the match, when Mosin moved up in the lead, closing the round in first with a score of 26 targets to Innocenti's 25.
“It hasn't been easy at all. The front wind has been challenging throughout the whole competitions, from the qualifications until the end, affecting the targets.” Mosin said after the match.
“Targets played with us. We played with targets. I am glad that I made it at the end.”
“I was not scared by Innocenti's perfect score in the semi-final. 30 targets is a great score, but we are used to it.” The Russian winner added.
Two Olympic Quota Places for Rio 2016 were up for grabs at today's final, and both Mosin and Innocenti gained a quota slot for their countries.
“The first step to Rio 2016 is done.” Mosin Commented. “I started preparing for this season already in December. We had a lot of support from our Federation, we could train in Cyprus and in Qatar over the winter, and I arrived at the first ISSF Wolrd Cup Stage in Acapulco in good shape. I have been a bit unlucky there. Al Ain turned in my favor.”
“The next goal is the European Games. I need Baku's Gold medal in my collection, and I am going for it. Then off course I will be on the ISSF World Championship. That's in September, and it's another target to achieve, on the road leading to Rio 2016.”
The Bronze medal went to Italy's 25-year old Davide Gasparini, who beat the Bronze medallist of the first ISSF World Cup Stage of the season in Acapulco, Derek Haldeman of the United States of America, 23.
Gasparini qualified for the Finals with 142 targets, and then scored 25 clays in the semi-finals, making it into the medal match. There he met and beat Haldeman 27 to 23 hits, pocketing his second Bronze medal here in Al Ain (he had already finished in third at the 2013 ISSF World Cup edition held here).
Australia's James Willett, 19, established a new Junior World Record today, as he scored 142 targets during the qualifications, a great score that pushed him forward into the Finals. There, he scored 23 targets, not enough to advance to the medal matches, and landed in fifth place.
Following him, Slovakia's 32-year old Hubert Andrzej Olejnik - who had won the 2014 ISSF World Cup Stage held in Munich climbing up into the world ranking's top-10 - finished in sixth with a score of 21 hits in the semi-final, after qualifying with 140+2 hits.
The ISSF World Cup in Al Ain (UAE) is held at the Al Ain Equestrian, Shooting and Gold Club from the 19th through the 29th of March. The next medals and Olympic quotas will be assigned on March 27, at the Skeet Women Finals. Watch the match live on www.issf-sports.org