It has been a close match. There are new rules, and Acapulco’s is the first ISSF competition to adopt them. Pinero qualified with the highest score, setting a new world record: 136 hits out of 150 targets. Di Spigno followed him close behind, with 135 hits. But with the new ISSF rules, in force since the 1st of January, the qualification scores are not carried into the final phases, where shooters start from zero.
Di Spigno and Pinero continued fighting throughout the semi-final, finishing tied in the lead with 25 hits each, and outdoing India’s Asab Mohd in a shoot-off to access the Gold medal match.
The two protagonists, neck and neck again, dulled right to the last double, when it was the four-time World Champion Di Spigno to prevail, beating 38-year old Pinero 27 to 26 hits.
The Italian champion – a 13-time World Cup medallist - had suffered the rule changes after the 2004 Olympics, when the timer was introduced. Apparently, the new rules – with no timer in the final - turned the tables in his favour again.
“It’s great to come back onto an ISSF podium! It has been difficult, but I made it!” Di Spigno said right after the match. He had won his last ISSF World Cup Stage in 2004.
Di Spigno’s victory also pushed Italy atop of the provisory medal standing of this first ISSF World Cup Stage. The European nation is currently leading the rankings with 2 Gold, 1 Silver ad 2 Bronze medals, while Russia follows in second with 1 Gold, and USA stands in third with 1 Silver and 1 Bronze.
Today’s Bronze medal went to the youngest finalist, USA’s 19-year old Ian Rupert, who outdid India’s 25-year old Asab Mohd 25 to 24 hits in the Bronze medal match.
Rupert had qualified with a new World Record of 136 hits, tied to Pinero, and then finished the Semi-Final in fourth place with 24 hits out of 30 targets.
“It has been a nice match! This is my first time on an ISSF podium, and it feels simply great!” the young medallist said.
Puerto Rico’s Torres Laboy Jose placed in fifth, closing the semi-final with 22 hits, while it was Italy’s Antonino Barilla to place in sixth with 20 hits.
The ISSF Shotgun World Cup in Acapulco will continue tomorrow with the Skeet events. The two finals, for the Skeet Men and the Skeet Women event, are scheduled to take place on the 22nd and the 23rd of March.
Check out the full schedule, the news, and the photo of the event at www.issf-sports.org