2014 ISSF Shotgun World Cup

Tucson, Apr 15, 2014: 2014 ISSF Shotgun World Cup in Tucson closed today. Italy won the last medal. USA atop of the overall medal standings.

USA finished atop of the medal standings of the first Shotgun world cup event of the year, followed by Australia. Italy’s Lodde won the last match, the Skeet Men final, after equalling the current world record. The ISSF World Cup Series keeps going, next stop: Almaty, Kazakhstan.

Today’s Skeet Men final concluded the second leg of the 2014 ISSF World Cup Series, conducted in Tucson, AZ, USA, following the first leg (in Rifle and Pistol event) held in Fort Benning, GA, USA, two weeks ago.

Over 300 athletes coming from 45 countries competed in this Shotgun World Cup Stage, held at the Tucson Trap & Skeet Club from the 8 through the 14 of April.

Italy’s Luigi Lodde won the last Gold medal match of the event, beating Stefan Nilsson of Sweden at today’s Skeet Men final.

The 34-year old athlete qualified for the semi-final with a record score of 124 hits (an equalled world record), making it to the semi-final in the lead. He then cleared the semi-final with 15 hits out of 16 targets, and won a four-way shoot-off to access the Gold medal match. There he met Sweden’s Nilsson, 23, but 16 targets were not enough to decide the medal placements. At the end of the match, the two athletes being tied with a score 15 hits each, another shoot-off had to be conducted. Lodde won again, beating Nilsson by 10 to 9 his, finally reaching the top of the podium.

“Difficulties make me stronger. I found the right motivation going into the shoot-offs. I zeroed in, and I made it. The game is getting harder and harder, as Rio 2016 gets closer.” Lodde said.

The Bronze medal went to USA’s first-time finalist David Dustin Perry, 21, who also equalled the current world record of 124 hits out of 125 targets in the qualifications, and then beat Australia’s Paul Adams by 15 to 13 hits in the Bronze medal match.

The host country, USA, finished atop of the overall medal standings, with a total of four medals (1 Gold, 1 Silver and 2 Bronze medals). Australia followed in second place with three medals (1 Gold, 1 Silver, 1 Bronze), while India, Italy and Slovakia tied in third place with one Gold medal each.

The ISSF World Cup Series will now continue in Almaty, Kazakhstan, where the next ISSF World Cup Stage will be held from the 16 through the 25 of May. —- ISSF