South Korea’s Jiseok Lee wins R4 gold in thriller

South Korea’s Jiseok Lee captured his first win of the season in thrilling fashion, during the first three days of the World Shooting Para Sport World Cup in Osijek, Croatia.

Five medal events wrapped up from 22-24 September, with competition continuing Monday (25 September) with P1 (men’s air pistol SH1) and P2 (women’s air pistol SH1).

Lee and reigning Paralympic silver medallist Francek Gorazd Tirsek were locked 230.6 entering the final round of the R4 (mixed 10m air rifle standing SH2). The 43-year-old South Korean shot 10.7 and 10.5 for a final score of 251.8, just three points better than his Slovenian counterpart to earn him the gold medal. Serbia’s Dragan Ristic (230.2) was third.

The R2 (women’s 10m air rifle standing SH1) also featured an interesting showdown. Once again, Rio 2016 Paralympic champion Veronika Vadovicova put it away with a final shot of 10.8 and a world-record score of 248.0. The Slovakian remains undefeated in R2, but continues to be chased by German Natascha Hiltrop (247.0). Germany’s Elke Seeliger (219.2) completed the podium.

The UAE had plenty to cheer for in Osijek.

The R7 (men’s 50m rifle 3 positions SH1) featured a rematch of the Rio 2016 Paralympic finals. But, this time the UAE’s Abdulla Sultan Alaryani (457.4) had complete control to top Serbia’s defending Paralympic champion Laslo Suranji (451.6). Germany’s Josef Neumaier (433.0) took home the bronze medal.

The R3 (mixed 10m air rifle prone SH1) on the contrary, did not have either Rio 2016 medallists Vadovicova or Hiltrop in the finals as both did not make it past elimination. Instead, the UAE’s Saif Alnuaimi (253.4) recorded his first career individual victory at a World Shooting Para Sport event. France’s Cedric Fevre (252.8) and Australia’s Anton Zappelli (229.9) took second and third, respectively.

South Korea’s Jungnam Kim won the P3 (mixed pistol SH1). Serbia’s Zivko Papaz secured the silver with a shoot-off tiebreak over Australia’s Christopher Pitt.

Complete results from the Osijek 2017 World Shooting Para Sport World Cup can be found at www.paralympic.org/shooting/live-results.