Italy's Niccolò Campriani won the first Gold of the ISSF World Cup in Milan, leaving his opponents one point behind him. "Good result, but I am still tuning up my equipment", the home hero said.
Shooting on his home ground, Italy’s Niccolò Campriani won the 10m Air Rifle Men event at the ISSF Rifle and Pistol World Cup Stage 2 held in Milan in these days.
The 24-year old reigning World Champion did not leave many chances to his opponents: starting in the lead with 599 points after the qualifications, tied to the Olympic Champ Zhu of China, the Italian shooter nailed a series of great final shot.
Scoring 103.7 points in the final, Campriani finished in the lead with an overall score of 702.7 points, securing his second ISSF Gold medal of the season, after his victory at the 50m Rifle 3 Positions Men event in London, two weeks ago.
“It’s always difficult to compete on your home turf. – Said Campriani – Shooting Sport is a fight against yourself and your emotions. It’s difficult to be in the lead, and not to think about getting a medal. But when you do you start shaking…”
“I am quite happy: eight shots out of ten where quite good, I just missed on the first and on the last one.” Italy’s Olympic hope said.
“I am still tuning up my new equipment. I have a new shooting jacket since London, and I am also thinking about a new, shorter stock.” Campriani added, commenting on his preparation for the Olympics.
The 2004 Olympic Champion (and 2008 Olympic Silver medallist), China’s Zhu Qinan did not make it, today. In spite of making it to the final round in the lead with 599 points, he scored 102.3 points in the final, sliding then down in fourth place with 701.3 points.
Climbing up from the fifth place, Belarus Vitali Bubnovich, 37, secured the Silver medal. Starting off with 597 points, the first-time medallist marked today’s highest final score – 104.7 points – finishing on the second step of the podium with an overall score of 701.7 points.
Climbing up to his first ISSF medal, Bubnovich upset the young Ukraine shooter Serhiy Kulish, who had closed the match in third securing the Bronze. Kulish, 19, scored 104.5 points in the final, finishing on the podium with 701.5 points.