Chateauroux 2018: Vasyl Kovalchuk takes gold

Vasyl Kovalchuk came in first in a thrilling Paralympic champions’ duel with Michael Johnson on the second day of competition (26 September) at the 2018 World Shooting Para Sport World Cup in the National Shooting Centre of France in Chateauroux.

Ukraine’s two-time Paralympic gold medallist achieved a score of 253.2 in the R4 (mixed 10m air rifle standing SH2), slightly ahead of the Athens 2004 champion (252.2). Italy’s Andrea Liverani claimed bronze.

London 2012 silver medallist Juan Antonio Saavedra Reinaldo won the other individual event of the day, the R6 (mixed 50m rifle prone SH1). The Spaniard finished ahead of USA’s 2013 Paralympic Shooter of the Year John Joss III.

Great Britain’s Paralympic champion Matt Skelhon had to settle for the bronze.

Team events

The German team won the R6 (mixed 50m rifle prone SH1) ahead of France and Italy, while Great Britain came on top in the R4 (mixed 10m air rifle standing SH2) followed by Italy and France.

Competition continues on 27 September with eight finals.

Chateauroux 2018 runs until 29 September and is being streamed live on World Shooting Para Sport’s website, where live results are also available.