The 2010 World Champion shot-off Italy’s Viganò to finish on the highest step of the podium. Olympic Quota Places went to Italy and Germany.
The 2010 World Champion Alberto Fernandez won today’s Trap Men final at the ISSF Combined World Cup in Sydney, Australia. The Spanish champion made it to the final with a score of 120 hits, one hit behind the qualification leaders. Then, zeroing in the final, he climbed up the scoreboard by hitting 23 targets. Ending up with a total score of 143 targets, he shot-off 1 to 0 hits Italy’s veteran Viganò to finish upon the highest step of the podium.
Fernandez, 27-year old, coming from a great 2010 season, starts the new shooting year in the best possible way. Winning the last European Championships in Kazan he had finished in the spotlights as one of the best trap shooters of the world. Then, winning the 2010 World Championship in Munich, he had secured an Olympic Quota Place for Spain.
And as Ferndandez had already qualified for the Games, the two Olympic Quota Places awarded today went to the second and third finalists, Italy’s Viganò abd Germany’s Stefan Ruettgeroth.
It was a real surprise for Rodolfo Viganò, a 40-year old Italian shooter who qualified to participate in the 2012 Games by finishing in second on the layouts of the 2000 Olympic range of Sydney. “I competed here at the 2000 Olympics, and this place is magic, for me.” Viganò said right after the final, looking at the venue with a smile on his face.
The Italian shooter finished in second place winning Silver with a total score of 143 (121+22) hits, missing the Gold at the shoot-off. But the colour of the medal did not matter to him, he said. “I still remember each and every target of my Olympic match. I am so glad that I won the Quota here, in Sydney! I don’t care if it’s a Silver, it was important to qualify for London.” Continued the experienced shooter.
“The 2012 Games? I won this quota place by myself, but I don’t know if I will be in the team. My coach Albano Pera will decide who will be in London. Will I go to London? I don’t know.”
The same questions that Stefan Ruettgeroth is asking to himself. The 30-year old German shooter ended up in third place, securing the Bronze and the second Olympic Quota to be assigned today. Entering the final with the highest qualification score, 121 hits, he did not miss his chance. Hitting 21 targets in the final, he landed on the third step of the podium with a total score of 142 clays.
Today’s turned out to be an unlucky match for the home champion, the Dual Olympic gold medallist Michael Diamond, who finished the final fifth with 17 targets and a total of 137, behind the 2004 Olympic Champion Alexey Alipov of Russia, fourth with 141 (119+22) hits, and preceding Portugal’s Jose Manuel Bruno Faria, sixth with 138 hits.
“Missing the first three in a high quality final put my back up against the wall,” Diamond said. “I’m super happy with my qualifying rounds at the moment but have to assess my single barrel final shooting.” Diamond said.
“I’m looking forward to Beijing and hopefully the quota can get won there along with a medal. I’ll have to go back to the drawing board now and stay focused for it.”