Kuwait’s Alrashidi won Trap Men Junior Gold
The son of the three-time Skeet World Champion Abdullah Alrashidi finished on the highest step of the Trap Men Junior podium with a total score of 122 hits out of 125 targets.
1993’s Kuwaiti shooter Talal Alrashidi became the new Trap Men Junior World Champion, today, winning the event on the layouts of the Kovilovo Shooting Range of Belgrade, Serbia, where the 2011 ISSF Shotgun World Championship is held from the 3rd to the 14th of September.
Alrashidi, who dedicated the medal to the Sheik of Kuwait and to his country, finished atop of the rankings with a total score of 122 hits out of 125 targets, leaving his closest opponent, New Zealand’s Allan Jack Norwood, one target behind him.
“This is a dream which finally comes true!” Alrashidi said right after the match, celebrating with his team.
“I have been training for three years, five to six times per week, to get to this point”
“I have been loving Trap shooting since the first try. I never thought about shooting anything else then Trap.”
The young champion had a special coach: his father, the three-time World Champion, and four-time Olympian Skeet shooter Abdullah Alrashidi, competing here in Belgrade as well.
“This is one of the best things of my life, I am still shaking” Abdullah said.
“I have introduced my son to shooting sport, and I really wanted him to win this competition.” The 48-year old Champion admitted.
“This was his last chance, as Junior shooter, and he made it. I could not be more happy.” Concluded the proud father, who will be competing in the Skeet event starting from Monday the 12th.
The Silver medal went to New Zealand’s Allan Jack Norwood, 19-year old, second with 121 hits out of 125 targets. He had placed 12 at the last World Championship in Munich, last year.
Behind them, the Bronze was assigned through a four way shoot-off, won by with Maksim Smikov of Russia, who finished on the podium with 120+5 hits, shooting-off Mark Shaw (GBR), Milan Hric (CZE) and the 2009 World Champion Valerio Grazini (ITA).
RUSSIA WON THE TEAM EVENT
Three young Russian shooters finished atop of the Trap Men Junior team. Maksim Smykov (winner of an individual Bronze) and his teammates Alexey Gulyaev and Ilya Vinogradov scored 356 targets to win the teams’ Gold. Following them on the podium, Italy’s Valerio Grazini, Giulio Fioravanti and Carlo Mancarella secured the teams’ Silver with 356 hits, while Bronze went to Czech Republic (Milan Hric, Jan Borkovec and Pavel Vanek) with 349 hits.
Italy’s Valerio GRAZINI won the Trap Men Junior competition, securing the first Gold medal of the 2009 ISSF Shotgun World Championship of Maribor.
Two shooters lead the provisory raking with a score of 73 hits out of 75 targets, but seven shooters are tied behind them. 50 targets are left to be shot, and the match is still open.
