By Sports Reporter
Doha
Decorated Italian shooter Gabriele Rossetti yesterday clinched the gold in the men’s skeet competition on day three of the ISSF World Cup Shotgun at Qatar’s iconic Lusail Shooting Range.
Rossetti, an Olympic gold medallist, topped the podium with a score of 39 points to finish ahead of American shooter Vincent Hancock (38) and Italy’s Luigi Lodde (27).
“I’m so happy. I’m so happy. It’s my first World Cup win,” Rossetti said. “I am an Olympics champion, a world champion, but I had never won the World Cup. And now I have won this also. I’m very happy,” said.
“I remember this day is very important for me because in 2018, one week after my my dad’s death, I came here. For me, Qatar is it’s a second home and I win my first World Cup here. So thank you Qatar,” the Italian, whose father Bruno bagged a bronze in the skeet event at the 1992 Olympic Games in Barcelona, added.
In the women’s skeet competition, American Kimberly Rhode’s 38 (S-off: 6) got her the top spot ahead of compatriot Samantha Simonton 38 (S-off: 5) after a tense battle at Lusail Shooting Range. Italy’s Simona Scocchetti in third spot (27).
“This is a wonderful arena and the competition level is so high here,” Rhode said later. “You have the best of the best (shooters) in the world here. The facility is incredible,” Rhode said.
“Every detail has been well thought out not just for the athletes, but also for the referees, the coaches. I mean, it’s just amazing. So at the end of the day, you have a lot of really fantastic scores and, you know, a lot of medals being awarded. I think we can safely say that we’ll be back,” Rhode said.
Around 465 shooters representing 63 countries are taking part in the Mar 3-13 championship.
The event is being hosted by the
Qatar Shooting and Archery Association.
Results Men’s skeet
1. Gabriele (Rossetti) ITA 39
2. Vincent Hancock (USA) 38
3. Luigi Lodde (ITA) 27
4. Azmy Mehelba (EGY)
Women’s skeet
1.Kimberly Rhode (USA) 38 S-off: 6
2.Samantha Simonton (USA) 38 S-off: 5
3. Simona Scocchetti (ITA) 27
4. Iryna Malovichko (UKR) 18
International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) Secretary-General Willi Grill, Qatar Shooting & Archery Association (QSAA) President Mishaal Ibrahim al-Nasr and QSAA Executive Director Jassim Shaheen al-Sulaiti with the podium winners of Skeet Men at the Lusail Shooting Range yesterday. Italy’s Gabriele Rossetti won the event, followed by American Vincent Hancock in second and Italy’s Luigi Lodde in third.
Women’s skeet winner Kimberly Rhode of USA (centre) poses with compatriot and silver-medallist Samantha Simonton (left) and bronze-medallist Simona Scocchetti of Italy.
