ISSF World Cup Final Rifle / Pistol / Shotgun · New Delhi, IND

Standing on top of the table all along the final, the French 23-year-old won France’s second Gold medal of the competition, climbing atop a podium that also starred youngsters Filip Nepejchal of the Czech Republic and Istvan Peni of Hungary, who respectively took Silver and Bronze.

The 50m Rifle 3 Positions Men final sealed the Rifle/Pistol schedule at the ISSF World Cup Final in New Delhi (IND), awarding Rio 2016 Silver medalist Alexis Raynaud of France with his first ISSF crystal globe.

The 23-year-old led the table for the whole final match, but failed to build a comfortable lead and distance his closes opponents: Czech Republic’s Istvan Peni and Hungary’s Istvan Peni.

Inching closer to the Elimination phase, Raynaud remained focused and extended the gap to 1.8-point at the end of the second standing series. There, the French shot four consistent shot, maintaining his lead and eventually capping the match with a fantastic 10.8 on his 45th and final one.

“I’m very happy! I was already happy to be here and be able to compete with the best shooters in the world,” said Raynaud. “That last 10.8 couldn’t come at a better time, when I saw it on the screen I finally relaxed. It’s been a great final, with many young shooters. I they are bringing a different approach to the sport, which is great.”

“My main focus for next year is the European and the World Championship,” he concluded.

The tight battle between 18-year-old Nepejchal and 20-year-old Peni finally crowned the Czech athlete, who took Silver with 458.5 points, while the Hungarian followed his younger rival in 3rd place with 449.1, adding a Bronze to the men’s 10m Air Rifle Gold he won four days earlier.

Placed just outside of the medal positions, Croatian 29-year-old Petar Gorsa took 4th place with 439.2 points, while Poland’s Tomasz Bartnik left after shot number 42 and finished 5th in his first World Cup Final participation, scoring 428.0 points.

The Polish 27-year-old preceded 45-year-old experienced Serbian shooter Stevan Pletikosic, who finished in 6th place and scored 414.3 points in his sixth World Cup Final appearance.

Two Chinese shooters left the match at the 40th-shot mark: the 2017 Junior World Champion Liu Yukun took 8th place with 404.3 points, while Hui Zicheng finishing in 7th with 405.6.