Published on 23 Apr 2018

Australia’s first-time finalist Galiabovitch beats China’s Lin at the end of a spectacular final

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Marco Vettoretti

The 28-year-old Aussie took the first World Cup medal of her career in Changwon (KOR), prevailing over People’s Republic of China’s Lin Yuemei after two thrilling shoot-off series. Yao Yushi, also of the People’s Republic of China, took bronze.

The second competition day at the ISSF World Cup Stage 2 in Changwon (KOR) opened with an exciting final in the 25m Pistol Women event, as Australia’s Elena Galiabovitch took her first World Cup medal after a spectacular duel with People’s Republic of China’s Lin Yuemei.

 

In fact, after they both concluded the match with 34 hits, Galiabovitch and Lin had to go through a shoot-off to determine the gold and the silver medalist, both scoring 2 hits in their first additional round and winning the applauses of a packed finals hall. In the second, decisive tie-breaker, then, the Australian 28-year-old prevailed with 3 hits against 2, pocketing the gold medal and adding it the the silver she won on April 10th at the 2018 Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast (AUS).

 

The silver won by 24-year-old Lin is the third medal for the People’s Republic of China in this competition, as they already secured the gold-bronze combo in yesterday’s 10m Air Rifle Women event.

 

A similar tie-breaker was needed to determine the first elimination of the final, as Germany’s Monika Karsch and France’s Celine Goberville were tied with 10 points apiece after four series: indeed, it took two additional shoot-off rounds for the German 35-year-old to prevail over the French 31-year-old, who then left the match in 8th place and failed to add a medal to the three World Cup silvers she won in this event between 2010 and 2012.

 

Karsch eventually landed in 7th position with 11 hits.

 

Appearing in her first international competition ever, 28-year-old Yao Yushi, also of the People’s Republic of China, took bronze with 30 hits, while India’s 27-year-old Rahi Sarnobat — who previously signed the highest qualification score with 588 points — took 4th place with 26.

 

Four-time Olympian Zsofia Csonkia of Hungary — European Champion in this event in Maribor (SLO) in 2015 — followed in 5th position, matching her best result in this event for the fifth time since 2007 and signing off with 20 hits.

 

Serbia’s 31-year-old Zorana Arunovic placed 6th with 15.

 

The ISSF World Cup Stage 2 in Changwon will continue this afternoon with two more finals: the 10m Air Rifle Mixed Team, taking place at 1:45 pm (UTC+9:00), and the Trap Women, scheduled at 4:15 pm.

 

The competition will be streamed live on the ISSF website, on the Federation’s Livestream channel and on its official Facebook page.

 

Live results, 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.