The Chinese Skeet shooter Wei Ning tied the world record of 74 targets at today’s Skeet Women event, winning her first gold medal of the season. Wei’s final score of 98 targets turned out to be only one target shy of tying the final world record.
Wei’s Golden competition
Beijing’s Olympic finalist WEI Ning of China tied the world record of 74 hits out of 75 targets at today’s Skeet Women competition, winning then the final round with a total score of 98 hits out of 100 targets, missing to tie the final world record of 99 hits just by one target.
“When you come close to the record, the pressure makes you shake!” Wei Ning said “This morning I shot fifty consecutive targets, I start thinking about the record and I missed a clay. The same happened during the final round. I knew I was close to a medal, I was thinking about it, and I missed a second target.”
Following Beijing’s Olympic Games, the 26-year old Chinese shooter changed coach and part of her equipment “I have a new coach. And I’ve changed my shotgun. Everything is different and I am not used to it. But I’ve noticed great improvements!”
The Chinese athlete had walked into Beijing’s Games as one of the favourites, closing then the competition in sixth place. From there on, the 26-year old Wei did not enter any other ISSF final round. Coming back on a podium after missing since the 2008 pre-Olympic World Cup in Beijing, in 2008, Wei secured her sixth world cup gold medal, the tenth world cup medal of her international shooting career.
Russia's expert Demina shot Silver
The four-time world champion Svetlana DEMINA of Russia, 48, made into the final match with the second highest qualification score, 73 points, one point behind Wei. The expert Russian shooter did not miss the chance to gain a spot on the podium: only missed one target in fifth station, winning Silver with 97 hits (73+24).
Bronze to USA’s Rhode
The battle for Bronze turned in favour of the Olympic Silver medallist of Beijing Kimberly RHODE, 29, from the United States of America, who placed in third with a score of 93 (73+20) hits.The American shooter grabbed Bronze at the last shot, as Slovakia’s Danka BARTEKOVA missed the high-house target on station eighth, finishing in fourth with a total score of 92 (71+21).
“I come from Double Trap, I still have to improve!” Kimberly RHODE said right after the award ceremony “This has been a positive trip: I am going back home with a medal. But I am looking forward to achieve better results. I will compete at the world cup in San Marino, later on this year, and I am planning to be back here in Munich for next year’s World Championships.”
Pinky LE GRELLE, shooting for Great Britain, closed the final match in fifth place with 91 hits, while the first time finalist Monica ZEMKOVA of Slovakia, 20-year old, ended up in sixth place with a score of 90 targets.