Semi-final and medal matches were staged for the first time in a Shotgun event, in the ISSF history, at today’s ISSF World Cup in Acapulco. Pshenichnikov won the fist Gold medal match, beating the 2012 Olympic Champion Rossi.
Russia’s Liudmila Pshenichnikov won the Trap Women Final at the 2013 ISSF Shotgun World Cup in Acapulco, Mexico, today. The 40-year old shooter secured the brightest medal by outdoing the 2012 Olympic Champion Jessica Rossi of Italy in the Gold medal match by 12 hits to 9.
Pshenichnikov had never won an ISSF medal, before. The Russian shooter took full advantage of the new Finals rules, which were inaugurated today. With the new rules, the top-6 athletes after the qualifications advance to a semi-final. There, they compete on 15 random targets. The top-2 advance then to the Gold medal match, while the third and fourth ranked continue to shoot in a Bronze medal match. The qualification and the semi-final scores are not carried forward: shooters always start the next competition phase from zero.
Pshenichnikov made it into the final after scoring 70 targets during the qualifications, in spite of Acapulco’s wind. Then, she passed through the semi-final with 13 hits out of 15 targets, after a close neck and neck with Rossi, advancing to the Gold medal match where she outdid her opponent.
The reigning Olympic Champ, Italy’s 19-year old Rossi placed in second, securing the Silver medal with 9 hits in the Gold medal match. She had qualified with 71 hits, and then passed through the semi-finals with 13 hits.
“I am happy that I could make it to the podium.” Rossi said. “I have been really busy after the Olympics. And I took a long winter break, staring my preparation just a few weeks ago.”
“The new rules? I am not so convinced about them… but today I would have probably placed in second with the old rules as well.” Rossi said.
Her 20-year old teammate Silvana Stanco, competing for the first time in a World Cup final phase, joined her on the podium securing Bronze. The young Italian shooter beat Germany’s Jana Beckmann in the Bronze medal match 13 hits to 10.
Two US athletes, Miranda Wilder and Rachael Lynn, placed in fifth and sixth place. They made it to the semi-final with 73 and 69 hits, hitting then 11 and 9 targets, respectively.
The ISSF Shotgun World Cup in Acapulco continues tomorrow, with the Trap Men Final. Check out photos, videos, stories and results of the event at www.issf-sports.org