Italy couldn’t have got off to a better start in Porpetto (ITA), where the ISSF Junior World Cup kicked off today with the women’s Trap Junior event.
18-year-old Erica Sessa, whose only previous international result was a 17th place nailed in Suhl (GER) in 2016, climbed atop the podium and secured her first career Gold, after entering the final with the highest qualification score.
In the final section of the match, Sessa maintained the lead, defending her position against friend and teammate Maria Lucia Palmitessa (18), a two-time Junior World Cup medalist, who climbed up to 2nd place after missing six of her first 10 clays.
“As soon as the match finished, I saw my teammate [Gaia Ragazzini] cry, and it moved me a lot as well,” said Sessa, who finished the match with 40 target hits against Palmitessa’s 37. “I couldn’t be more happy, I wanted this medal for a long time, I worked really hard to achieve it, and now it’s here.”
“My first phone call was to my parents, their support to me is outstanding. This medal is for them,” she concluded.
The third Italian final participant, Giulia Grassia, finished in 3rd position, claiming the Bronze with 28 hits and completing the Italian hat-trick.
Two Great Britain’s shooters finished just outside of the medal positions, as 19-year-old Ellie Seward placed in 4th position with 25 target hits and Augusta Rose Campos-Martyn finished 5th with 21.
Spain’s Cristina Beltran (20) was the first to be eliminated from the match, concluding in 6th position with 14 hits.
Live results of the competitions, news and updates will be available on www.issf-sports.org and on all ISSF social media platforms: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, Weibo and Youku.
The ISSF Junior World Cup Shotgun in Porpetto (ITA) will continue tomorrow with the men’s Trap Junior final scheduled at 4:30 pm (UTC+2:00). The final will be streamed live on the ISSF website, on the Federation’s Livestream channel and on its official Facebook page.