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2005 World Champion Massimo FABBRIZI of Italy won the Trap Men final at the ISSF World Cup in all events in Munich, grabbing gold with a total score of 148 hits. The Italian shooter equalled the current world record of 125 hits out of 125 targets throughout the qualification rounds, but could not shoot the final world record of 149 targets since he dropped two clays in the final match.

“This sport venue is great! – Fabbrizi said after the final round – the weather did not help us: bad light and poor visibility, but the machines are throwing great targets, and everything seemed to be easy out there. I have shot 225 consecutive targets, also considering the training rounds…”

“Final rounds are always different, always difficult. We only have one shot to hit the target, in spite of the two allowed in the qualifications, this is why to hit that final world record is so difficult!” explained Fabbrizi, who had won a World Cup gold medal at the 2006 World Cup in Qingyuan City and a Silver medal at last year’s World Cup in Belgrade.

Silver was assigned throughout a shoot-off between China’s GAO Bo and Croatia’s Anton GLASNOVIC. The Chinse finalist won the duel shooting 6 targets to Glasnovic’s 5 hits.

Gao secured Silver with a total score of 145 (123+22) clays + 6 hits in the shoot-off “I had to shoot-off to get into the medal match, and I had to shoot-off to get on the podium! What a final!” said the Chinese shooter, who had never made into a final round before “This is only my second international competition, and at the previous one in Cairo I did not shot that good. I would have never imagined to finish on the podium today, I didn’t even have the ceremony-suite for the medal ceremony with me…”

Anton Glasnovic brought Bronze back to Croatia with 145 (123+22) clays + 5 hits in the shoot-off “I am exhausted, I missed that last target and I had to shot-off, I am sorry I did grab Silver, but I am on the podium, and I am happy about it”

Following the three medallists, Erik VARGA of Slovakia placed in fourth with 144 hits (124+24), while the two Spanish teammates Alberto FERNANDEZ and Jesus SERRANO closed the match in fifth and sixth place with 143 and 141 targets, respectively.

“This new sport venue is great!” said Irina LARICHEVA of Russia, winner of the first medal of the 2009 ISSF World Cup in Munich, Germany. The 1972 Olympics shooting range has just been re-opened after being renewed in prevision of the 2010 ISSF World Championships in all events.

“I had competed here 14 years ago, but now the shotgun range is completely new. In spite of the rain, I shot a good final, also thanks to the optimal background” continued Laricheva, who won today’s Gold with a score of 92 hits (72 out 75 targets throughout the qualifications, plus 20 out of 25 in the final round).

The Russian athlete kept the leadership she had gained through a successful qualification by shooting an excellent final round in spite of the rain “I am used to shoot in the rain – Laricheva said – rain did not affect my round…”

Silver went to the first time finalist LU Xingyu of China, who qualified for the medal match by hitting 72 out of 75 targets, shooting then 19 targets throughout the final round. The 25-year old athlete had never competed in an ISSF world cup before. She said: “I so happy about this podium. I did not expect to win something at my first try! At the same time, I am sorry I could not reach the gold – she added – I really had a chance today, unfortunately I have not exploited it.”

The host country Germany celebrated the inauguration of the renewed shooting rage with the Bronze medal won by the expert Susanne KIERMAYER. The 40-year old German shooter, currently ranked 12 in the world, competed surrounded by numerous local supporters and scored a total of 90 targets (72+18).

The two Slovakian teammates Zuzana STEFECEKOVA and Jana MEZEIOVA closed the final round tied with 88 hit. In the following shoot-off for the fourth place, Beijing’s Olympic Silver medallist Stefecekova shot-off her teammate 3 to 2 hits.

A first time finalist, the 23-year old Beatriz MARTINEZ of Spain, ended up in sixth place. She had squeezed into the final match by winning a 7-way shoot-off, but she probably paid her lack of experience in one-shot finals, ending in sixth with 83 hits (71+12).

The next final:
The next final round, the Trap Men final will take place tomorrow at 5 PM Munich time (GMT/UTC +2). Follow the match on issf-sports.org!

The ISSF President, Mr. Olegario Vàzquez Raña took part in the awarding ceremony of the Trap Women event at the ISSF World Cup stage in Munich, inaugurating the renewed 1972 Olympics shooting range of Munich.

“This venue is fantastic! I’ve been competing here in Munich at the 1972 Olympic Games!” said President Olegario Vàzquez Raña “The shooting range of Munich has always been one of the best venue of the world. Now it has been renewed, and it’s just beautiful” added the ISSF President.

The renewed venue will host the 50th ISSF World Championships in all events in 2010. “We have received a report from the organizers of the 2010 World Championship – commented Mr. Vàzquez Raña – and I am sure that it is going to be a great event. We trust on our German friends, and the 50th ISSF World Championships is probably going to best championship we have ever been preparing.”