The home shooter Sonja Pfeilschifter won the first 10m Air Rifle Women final at the IWK competition in Munich, outscoring her teammate Beate Gauss. Pfeilschifter, who had entered the match in third place with 399 points after the qualifications, climbed up in the lead on the third last shot of final. With a total score of 504.1 points, the German athlete finished on the highest step of the podium, winning her first international medal of the season with 1.0 point of advantage on her teammate Gauss.
Pfeilschifter secured the brightest medal thanks to an excellent final score of 105.1 points. But the Bavarian athlete did not seem to be surprised. “This is not my best final, this year”. She commented, right after the last competition shot. How is it possible? The season has just started! “I marked a 105.8 just a few days ago, at the European Championship’s selection match of the German team. – Explained the champion. “And it was easier to compete here, at the IWK, as I had no pressure.”
“I feel extremely good. We have already won all the Olympic Quota Places for London at the World Championship;” Pfeilschifter said about the 2011 shooting season.
“I will concentrate on the European Championship, which are going to take place in Brescia, Italy, next March”. Sonja added “Then, I will probably participate in the ISSF World Cup Stage in Fort Benning, USA”.
Her teammate, Beate Gauss, followed in second place, securing the Silver medal with a total score of 503.1 points. The German sharpshooter had started the final match in the lead with an outstanding score of 400 points. But that equalled world record was not enough to beat Pfeilschifter. After marking a frustrating 9.6 at her seventh final shot, Gauss slid down in second place, eventually ending up with the Silver. Following her, Petya Lukanova from Bulgaria finished in third securing the Bronze with 501.8 points.