The Indian ace shooter claimed the title in Izmir and looks now forward to his next aim: the Commonwealth Games taking place in India in October.
The Indian ace shooter Ronjan Sodhi won the Cup in the Double Trap event at the 2010 ISSF Shotgun World Cup Final in Izmir, Turkey, today.
The 30-year old shooter from Punjab climbed up the scoreboard since the first pair. Qualified with a score of 143 hits out of 150 targets, Ronjan took advantage of his opponents’ numerous mistakes, nailing the Gold medal with a final tally of 49 hits, and a total score of 192 targets.
“I feel simply great!” exclaimed Sodhi, jumping on the highest step of the podium.
“This has been a long and intense season. I took part in five different international competition, and the balance of the year is definitively positive.” He added, thinking about the 2010 ISSF World Cup season.
“I won the World Cup stage in Lonato, and the World Cup Final here in Izmir. And at the beginning of the year, in Acapulco, I also scored a world record… unluckily I was shooting as MQS, so that was not registered.” Continued the shooter, who is currently ranked ninth in the world.
Sodhi won’t have much time to rest, after this victory, in spite of being at the end of such a stressful seasons. “No holidays – he said - I will give my best for the Commonwealth Games, now. I am getting ready, and I feel extremely motivated. Australian and English shooters will be the toughest opponents to beat, there.“
Following him in second and third place, two Chinese teammates, Mo Jiunie and Pan Qiang secured the Silver and the Bronze medal, respectively.
Mo, 22-year old, from Shanghai, had finished in the spotlight at the World Cup stage of Beijing and Lonato, this year, winning the home-game and placing fourth in Italy. He started today’s final with a qualification score of 141 hits, and climbed up in second place by hitting 47 clays in the final, for a total score of 188 hits.
His teammate Pan Qiang, 25, from Beijing, who had qualified for this match by winning the World Cup Stage held in Dorset last spring, finished in third place grabbing the Bronze with a total of 187 (144+43) hits.
The 2010 World Championship Silver medallist Vasily Mosin from the Russian Federation was left in fourth place. Qualified with a score of 143 hits, the Russian sharpshooter missed his first pair of targets, lading out of the podium a total score of 186 (143+43) hits.
The Swedish champion Hakan Dahlby (who had won the World Cup Final two years ago) and the 1996 Olympic Champion and two time World Champion Russell Mark of Australia followed in fifth and sixth place with 184 and 183 targets, respectively.
The 2009 World Cup Final title defender, China’s Hu Binyuan, and the recently-awarded 2010 World Champion, USA’s Joshua Richmond, did not make it to the final, and closed their match in 9th and 10th place, respectively.