The first surprise from China

“This is a great day for me, I have to thank my coach and my team for this result!” said Pang Wei, 20, from China, winner of the first event of this 49th ISSF World Championship in Zagreb, the 10 meters air pistol. In the sight of the President of the International Olympic Committee Dr. Jacques Rogge, and of the ISSF President Mr. Olegario Vázquez Raña, who came here to follow the beginning of the competitions, the young Chinese athlete became the new World Champion winning his first international match with the total score of 683.8 points. Notwithstanding his young age and his luck of experience, Pang impressed for his personality in the fight against the best pistol shooters of the world. “This was my first international competition – he commented – but after this victory I think that next year I’ll be more present on the international scena” In his run for the Gold, he fought hardly against the Thai shooter Jakkrit Panichpatikum, 33. After taking the lead of the round thanks to a 10.8 and a 10.1 on shot seven and eight, the unlucky Panichpatikum had to give back the first place to the Chinese challenger on the last shot, ending up his match in second with the score of 683 points. Coming in third behind the two rivals for gold, the Russian athlete Vladimir Gontcharov, 29, gained the Bronze medal playing an exciting remount from the last place he had on the start list up to the podium, overtaking his team mates Vladimir Isakov, 36, out of the podium only by a tenth of a point, and Michail Nestruev, 37, the today’s fifth. Closing the final rank, Victor Makarov, from Ukraine, finished his match in sixth position, preceding the second Chinese finalist Lin Zhongzai and the Kazakh Rashid Yunusmetov, today’s eighth.