29.03.2014
CHANG
(CHN) BEAT MAKSIMOVIC (SRB) IN THE DUEL FOR THE 10M AIR RIFLE WOMEN GOLD
The
People's Republic of China won its first medal at the 2014 ISSF Rifle and
Pistol held in Fort Benning, GA, USA, today. Thanks to Chang Jing, 26,
currently ranked fifth in the world, who secured the Gold at the 10m Air Rifle
Women final.
Chang, who started shooting on the international
scene just two years ago, did not leave many chances to her opponents. With
209.1 points scored in the final, she closed the match in first with 1.5 points
of advantage on the Silver medallist, Ivana Maksimovic of Serbia.
But that was not a surprise: Chang had only
participated in two ISSF World Cup, last year, finishing on both podiums. Stats
don't lie: when she's competing in ISSF World Cup air rifle matches, she's
winning a medal.
The London 2012 Olympic medallist Ivana Maksimovic,
23, from Serbia, followed in second place, with a final score of 207.6 points.
Enough to start off the new World Cup season on the podium, five months after
winning a Silver medal at the 2013 ISSF World Cup Finals.
“It has been quite difficult for me, today.”
Maksimovic said, wearing the Silver medal. The Serbian shooter fought shoulder
and shoulder against Russia's Anna Zhukova throughout the whole match, right to
the 18th shot, when Zhukova fired a disappointing 9.2-point shot, putting
herself in third with a total score of 186.0 points.
“I have been feeling the pressure of the match, and
I couldn't see anything! But I tried to resit and focus on each shot, and
luckily I made it!” Maksimovic said.
“I am happy I could start off the world cup series
with a medal. I won a Bronze at the European Championship in Moscow just a few
weeks ago, and I feel great.” She added.
“2014 is an important season. I will be going to
all world cup stages but Beijing, to prepare for the ISSF World Championship in
Granada (where the first quota places for Rio 2016 will be assigned, ed.) I
will spend a lot of time in Spain, training for that.”
Maksimovic has also been nominated as the 2014
Shooting Athlete Role Model for the Youth Olympic Games, so she will travel to
Nanjing, China, next August. “It's exciting, I can't wait for that! I am really
looking forward to the Youth Olympic Games, I am sure it's going to be a great
experience.” Ivana concluded, with a smile on her face.
. MAKSIMOVIC Ivana
3. ZHUKOVA Anna
3
Posted by Thom Erik Syrdahl
Source – ISSF Website
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