The Chinese shooter won the brightest medal equalling the world and the final world record. Two Olympic Quotas went to Germany and Thailand
The home hero, China’s Wei Ning, won today’s Skeet Women final, the opening match of the 2011 ISSF Shotgun World Cup in Beijing, China. The Chinese shooter made it in the best possible way, equalling both the world and the final world records.
The 2004 Olympic Silver medallist walked into the final round with an equalled world record of 74 hits, with two targets of advantage on her followers. Then, zeroing in for the medal round, she cleared the final with 25 hits out of 25 targets. A perfect match, which left no chances to her opponents: USA’s Kimberly Rhode, the winner of the last World Cup Stage, finished indeed in second place with 96 hits, three targets behind her.
“I think it’s just my duty to do my best, in front of my people. Of course I am happy that I tied the World Record, but this is simply what I have to do.” Wei said wearing the Gold medal. Her final was followed by a huge viewership on CCTV5 channel, China’s official broadcaster, which filmed today’s event.
“I have train very often here in Beijing. So I think I had a kind of advantage on the others.” Said the Chinese winner, who secured this Gold medal on the layouts of the 2008 Olympic Venue of Beijing, her home range.
While the other finalists suffered for the wind, Wei seemed to be used to hit, missing only one out of 100 targets, today. “To deal with the weather is not easy, here in Beijing. April is the windy season, and you have to learn how to deal with it, as it will affect your round.”
“I am not sure if I will be competing at the next Games. We have a qualifications system that measures our performances throughout the whole year, so it’s too early to say if I will make the team or not.” Concluded the Chinese shooter, who had finished in sixth at the last Olympic Games here in Beijing.
The Silver medal went to USA’s Kimberly Rhode, who had won the previous World Cup Stage in Sydney, just three weeks ago. The 31-year old Olympic multi-medallist made it to the final with a qualfiicaiton score of 72 hits, missing then one target in the final to finish in second with a total score of 96 clays.
The Bronze medal went to Christina Wenzel of Germany, who came back on an ISSF podium after missing since the 2009 World Cup Final, which she won here in Beijing. The 29-year old German shooter, who took some time off from shooting as she had a baby, ended up in third with 94 targets, after outdoing Thailand’s Sutiya Jewchaloemmit in a shoot-off by 2 to 1 hits.
Wenzel and Jewchaloemmit secured the two Olympic Quota Places awarded today, as today’s Gold and Silver medallist had already won one. Slovakia’s Danka Bartekova closed the match in fifth with a total score of 92 (70+22) hits, followed by USA’s Caitilin Connor, sixth with 89 (72+17) hits.