COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (November 5, 2008) – Two-time Olympian Matt Emmons (Browns Mills, N.J.) took home the silver medal in the Men’s Air Rifle event at the 2008 ISSF Rifle/Pistol World Cup Final in Bangkok, Thailand, brining his total medal count for the competition to three.
Emmons, a 2004 Olympic gold medalist and 2008 silver medalist in men’s prone shot a qualifying score of 598 and the highest final score of 104.5, giving him a total score of 702.5 to secure the silver medal.
Indian shooter Gagan Narang finished the day in first place, equaling the qualifying world record score of 600 and breaking the final world record score with a 103.5, for a total of 703.5, a full point ahead of Emmons. Zhu Qinan, the 2004 Olympic gold medalist and 2008 silver medalist in this event, finished the day with the bronze medal, shooting a qualifying score of 599, a final score of 103.3 for a total score of 702.3.
The Women’s Air Rifle event was also held today at the World Cup Final. American shooter Emily Caruso (Fairfield, Conn.), a two-time Olympian, finished in the ninth spot with a total score of 395. Winning the event was China’s Wu Liuxi, shooting a qualifying score of 398, a final score of 104.1 for a total score of 502.1. Wu barely edged out 2004 and 2008 Olympic silver medalist Lioubov Galinka, who equaled the world record of 400 in qualifying, but shot a low final score of 101.9, landing her in second place with a 501.9. Taking home the bronze medal was 2004 Olympic gold medalist and four-time world cup final winner since 2004, Du Li of China. Du shot a qualifying score of 396 and a final score of 105.1, for a total score of 501.1.
The final day of competition included the Men’s Air Rifle event in which 2008 Olympic bronze medalist Jason Turner (Rochester, N.Y.) finished in seventh place with a qualifying score of 581, a final score of 96.9, giving him a total score of 677.9. Ukraine’s Oleg Omelchuk won the gold medal with a qualifying score of 585 and a final score of 102.4, for a total of 687.4. Two-time Olympian Norayr Bakhtamyan, from Armania, finished 2.2 points being Omelchuk, with a score of 685.2. Bakhtamyan shot a higher qualifying score of 588, but shot a much lower final score of 97.2. Finishing in third place was Olympic bronze medalist Vladmir Isakov of Russia, who shot a 584 in qualification and 100.1 in the final, giving him a total score of 684.1.
Ninety-one shooters from 35 countries are took place in the 2008 ISSF Rifle/Pistol World Cup Final with competition running from November 3-5.
For more information and complete results throughout the World Cup Final, please visit www.issf.tv.
Emmons wins third medal in Bangkok
Moderators: pilkguns, m1963, David Levene, Spencer, Richard H