Reigning world champion Zhang Jingjing of the People’s Republic of China nailed her fifth ISSF World Cup gold medal in career at today’s 25m Pistol Women final, in Munich.
The 28-year old shooter moved into the lead after the second series, to finish atop of the podium with a total 36 hits after the ninth and last series. She beat the winner of last year’s world cup in Baku, Bulgaria’s Antoaneta Boneva, 31, who closed the match in second place with 34 hits.
Olympic Champion Anna Korakaki of Greece, who arrived here in Munich after winning the 2016 ISSF World Cup Final in Bologna at the end of the past season, took today’s Bronze medal with 26 hits. She left Belarus’ Viktoria Chaika, 36, in 4th place with 22 hits, while London 2012 Olympic bronze medalist Olena Kostevych of Ukraine took 5th place with 20 hits. Serbia’s Zorana Arunovic, 30, followed in 6th (16 hits), ahead of first-time finalists Kim Minjung from the Republic of Korea (7th with 12 hits) and Veronika Major from Czech Republic (8th with 8 hits).
After the final, Korakaki, 21, was also awarded the 2016 ISSF Shooter of the Year title, along with Italy’s three-time Olympic Champion Niccolo Campriani.
The trophy is recognized every year to the two athletes who best represented the values of the Shooting Sport in the past season, through unique performances, behavior and character. The winners were selected by a panel including members of the ISSF Athletes’ Committee, of the ISSF Coaches Advisory Board and by delegates of the international press.
Korakaki was the first Greek athlete to win an Olympic medal in Shooting in 120 years, at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games. There, she won the Olympic Bronze medal in the women’s 10m Air Pistol event, eventually becoming the Olympic Champion in the 25m Pistol women event on August 9th.
“It feels great,” she said, “I have been working for years trying to improve my shooting, and 2016 has been an amazing and extremely rewarding year.”