The 2016 European Champion Riccardo Filippelli of Italy, won today’s Skeet Men final, the last official event of the ISSF Rifle, Pistol, Shotgun World Cup in New Delhi, India.
The 36-year old Italian shooter closed the final match with 57 hits out of 60 possible targets, setting the new world record (all record were reset as the new 2017 ISSF Technical Rules were introduced on the 1st of January, transforming the Skeet medal matches in an elimination-style final).
Filippelli, who had won only one world cup event back in 2014, beat his teammate and reigning Olympic Champion Gabriele Rossetti, 21.
Rossetti scored 53 targets to secure today’s silver, leaving 24-year old Australian finalist Paul Adams in third place. Adams, who had never won a world cup medal before, hit 45 targets before being eliminated in bronze position.
“It has been a great competition, I have been shooting in my comfort zone through the whole match, and I had fun during the final. I couldn’t have asked for more.” Says Filippelli.
“I am happy to share today’s podium with my teammate Rossetti. We know each other since years, we have been shooting shoulder and shoulder many times,” added the Italian shooter.
“My next goal is the European Championship. I am preparing to defend the title I won last year. Then, I hope I will be selected for the World Championship from our coach, Andrea Benelli (ed. in the picture with Filippelli and Rossetti).”
Finland’s Timo Laitinen, 44, making his first appearance in an ISSF world cup final match today, followed the medallists in fourth place with 35 hits, overtaking Saif Bin Futtais of the United Arab Emirates, 5th with 27 hits, and India’s hope Sheeraz Sheikh, 6th with 16 hits.
The men’s Skeet final concluded the official program of 2017 ISSF Rifle, Pistol, Shotgun World Cup in New Delhi.
452 athletes from 50 nations competed in this first ISSF world cup event of the season from the 23rd of February. The People’s Republic of China finished atop of the medals standing, with an impressive total tally of 12 medals, after winning 6 out of 10 Rifle and Pistol events. Italy followed in second with 5 medals, including 2 golds, all won in Shotgun events.
The next ISSF World Cup event, a shotgun stage, will take place in Acapulco, Mexico, from the 17th through the 27th of March.