Nobody can stop the People’s Republic of China: the strongest rifle and pistol team of the first world cup stage of the year collected another gold medal thanks to Zhang Yiwen, who sealed the women’s 50m Rifle 3 Positions Women victory this morning.
It’s the 6th gold medal out of 8 events. On day-4, half-way thorough the world cup stage, Chinese shooters won all rifle and pistol finals conducted in New Delhi, leaving just two shotguns matches to Italy and Australia.
Zhang Yiwen, 21, made it while making her first appearance in an ISSF World Cup. The young shooter finished the kneeling series in 4th with 151.7 points, climbing then up in third place with a strong prone position fraction (306.3 points). Zhang reached the lead during the standing position series, nailing the brightest medal with 455.7 points in spite of a spine-chilling 9.3-point last shot.
Singapore’s Ser Xiang Wei Jasmine, 26, had a chance to overtake the Chinese winner, but a disappointing 8.3 landed her in second place, with 453.8 points.
Two-time world cup medallist Eva Roesken of Germany, 32, finished the kneeling section of the match in the lead with 153.0 points, sliding then in second place at the end of the prone series, with 307.7 points, to eventually finish the final in third place with 443.6 points,
She was followed by her teammate Jolyn Beer, the 22-year old shooter who had won last year’s ISSF World Cup in Bangkok at her first appearance, who closed today’s match in 4th place. After completing the kneeling series in 8th place with 149.1 points, she moved up in the scoreboard through the standing position, collecting a total of 433.0 points.
Rio 2016 Olympic finalist, Nina Christen of Switzerland, 23, currently ranked 7th in the world in this event, took the 5th place with 422.8 points, while Japan’s first-time finalist Shumizu Ayano, secured the 6th place with 411.4 points.
Shooting on her home turf, India’s Tejaswini Sawant, 36, claimed the 7th place with 402.4 points. She was eliminated along with Rio 2016 Olympic finalist Najmeh Khedmati of the Islamic Republic of Iran, 20, who finished in 8th with 402.2 points.
Pressure is back on shotgun shooters now: Day-4 of the ISSF Rifle, Pistol, Shotgun World Cup in New Delhi will indeed continue with the men’s Double Trap final, starting at 15.30 (UTC+5.30). Due to technical problems at the range, the final won’t be broadcasted live. Live results will be available at www.issf-sports.org