Engleder wins 50m Rifle 3 Positions final with 6.5 points of lead at ISSF World Cup in Munich

ISSF World Cup Rifle / Pistol · Munich, GER

The German shooter won Gold on her home turf, collecting Germany's second Gold medal at the ISSF Rifle and Pistol World Cup in Munich

Germany's three-time Olympian Barbara Engleder became the protagonist of a brilliant 50m Rifle 3 Position Women final, shooting on her home turf, during the ISSF World Cup in Munich.

The 32-year old shooter turned out to be uncatchable for her opponents, as she finished atop of the scoreboard with 461.5 points, and 6.5 points of advantage on the closest athlete, today's Silver medallist Yoo Seo Young of the Republic of Korea.

2010 World Champion Engleder moved atop of the table after the first Kneeling series, with 53.0 points and a perfect 10.9, and increased her lead as she nailed two consecutive 10.9 on her second series.

The German shooter kept the first place even after the Prone series, as she scored 156.5 points over three series, putting 4.0 points between herself and the other finalists.

In the last phase of the competition, the Standing series, she collected 149.0 points, finishing in first in spite of a mistake on the last shot (a disappointing 7.8).

“This final went really well. It began fabulously in the kneeling position, and it kept on going OK in the prone position, where I normally lose a little bit. And then, coming to the standing, the position had been brilliant during the qualification rounds, and I was able to bring that good feeling into the final.” Engleder said, commenting on today's match.

The German athlete had won her last world cup in 2012, at the pre-Olympic event in London. After missing from the top rankings for a couple of years, the 2015 season started in the best way as she secured a world cup bronze in Fort Benning, a couple of weeks ago.

“This is a special day. I have been in the sport for more than 15 years now, and I still don't know exactly why some days are better than others. Today, was just one of those days when everything falls in the right place.” Engleder added. “Winning in front of my home crowd is the most fabulous thing I can think about. I am really glad that I could make a good show for all of them.”

“We've all Olympic quotas we need, but it's not sure that I will be competing in the Olympic Games in Rio.” Continued the German athlete “There are so many good young shooters in our team, and the Games are still one year far away. We will see... ask me about it next year, and I will tell you more.”

Following her, 19-year old finalist Yoo Seo Young of the Republic of Korea – competing for the first time in a world cup final-8 - placed in second securing Silver and an Olympic quota place with 455.0 points.

Yoo beat the 2012 air rifle Olympic Champion Yi Siling of the People's Republic of China (26), who finished in third claiming the Bronze with 444.6 points to collect her second medal of the week, after winning the air rifle event on 28th of May.

The second Olympic Quota to be awarded today went to the 2007 European Champion Natalia Kalnysj of Ukraine (40), who placed in sixth with 409.6 points.

Kazakhstan's Yelizaveta Korol (20) placed in fourth behind the medallists with 429.8 points. She was followed by Engleder's teammate Selina Gschwandtner (21), who made it to the finals once again, today, after nailing a bronze medal at the last ISSF World Cup stage in Fort Benning. Competing on her home turf and supported by a number of teammates and fans, she resisted right to the 42nd final's shoot, when she was eliminated and took the fifth place with 419.8 points.

Singapore's Ser Xiang Wei Jasmine (24), ranked 16th in the world in this event, ended up in 7th with 398.5 points, while USA's Amy Sowash (30), who had won an Olympic Quota place on her home turf at the last ISSF World Cup in Fort Benning, was the first to be eliminated, taking 8th place with 396.8 points.