China’s Rifle shooter Zhu Qinan and Ukraine’s Pistol shooter Olena Kostevych – two 2004 Olympic Champions - have been elected “2011 Shooters of the Year” by a panel of international sport press representatives and by the members of the ISSF Athletes and the Coaches Committees.
The prestigious title was assigned for their outstanding results throughout the past shooting season, and for embodying the values of the shooting sport with passion and engagement.
China’s Zhu Qinan, 27, an Olympic Champion of Athens 2004, winner of an Olympic Silver medal in 2008, has been the best 10m Air Rifle Men shooter for years now. Staring his international sport career in 2003, he won an impressive total of 20 ISSF World Cup awards, and finished on six different ISSF World Cup Final podiums. Seventeen times, between world cup and world cup finals, he finished on the highest step of the podium.
During the 2011 season, Zhu switched to the 50m Rifle 3 Positions Men event, proving to be a great marksmen also on the new distance by winning two ISSF World Cup Golds in Sydney (AUS) and Fort Benning (USA).
“This award will motivate me to do more and to do it better. – The Chinese ace shooter Zhu commented about being voted “Shooter of the Year” - I will be better inspired to push forward the development of my shooting.”
“I want to win another Olympic Gold in London, that’s my goal, and I want to win it in a different competition: the 50m Rifle 3 Positions Men event”.
Ukraine’s Olena Kostevych, 26, the 10m Air Pistol Women Olympic Champion of Athens 2004, won an outstanding number of votes, becoming “Shooter of the Year” for the second time in her career. The Ukrainian athlete had indeed finished in the spotlights also in 2002, after winning the ISSF World Championship in Lahti (FIN), at the age of 16.
During the 2011 season, the young Pistol ace secured two ISSF World Cup victories in Fort Benning (USA) and Sydney (AUS), finishing on the highest step of the podium of both the 10m Air Pistol Women and of the 25m Pistol Women events.
Closing the season at the 2011 ISSF World Cup Final in Rifle and Pistols events in Wroclaw, Kostevych secured the 10m Air Pistol Women world cup title, climbing up the world ranking to the first place, and becoming – like in 2004 – the favourite to earn a medal in London.
The two shooters will be officially awarded by ISSF Authorities during the “London Prepares” ISSF World Cup in all events, taking place at the Royal Artillery Barracks (RAB) Olympic venue in Woolwich, London, from the 17th through the 29th of April.
RESULTS OF THE ELECTIONS
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2011 Shooter of the Year – Women
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Rank
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Shooter
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NOC
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Overall Points
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1
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KOSTEVYCH Olena
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UKR
|
84
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2
|
ROSSI Jessica
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ITA
|
48
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3
|
RHODE Kimberly
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USA
|
37
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4
|
CHEN Ying
|
CHN
|
29
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|
5
|
WENZEL Christine
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GER
|
23
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|
2011 Shooter of the Year – Men
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|
Rank
|
Shooter
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NOC
|
Overall Points
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|
1
|
ZHU Qinan
|
CHN
|
66
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|
2
|
MARTYNOV Sergei
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BLR
|
61
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|
3
|
REITZ Christian
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GER
|
49
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|
4
|
MATSUDA Tomoyuki
|
JPN
|
45
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|
5
|
CAMPRIANI Niccolò
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ITA
|
24
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