Vadovicova sets new world record at World Cup

Slovakia’s Veronika Vadovicova set a new world record on her way to her second victory at the World Shooting Para Sport World Cup in Al Ain, United Arab Emirates, on Thursday (23 February).

Following her win in R3 (mixed 10m air rifle prone SH1) from Wednesday (22 February), Rio 2016 Paralympic silver medallist Vadovicova was the victor in R8 (women’s 50m rifle three positions SH1).

Leading throughout the kneeling, prone and standing rounds the Slovakian made light work of the final, setting a world record of 459.4. The score tops the former record of 458.2 set by China’s Paralympic champion Cuiping Zhang in 2015.

Great Britain’s Lorraine Lambert (444.1) was second. Germany’s Natascha Hiltrop (430.1) reached her second podium in as many days with third.

Radoslav Malenovsky made it two wins for Slovakia in R1 (men’s 10m air rifle standing SH1).

Changes to the number of shots for the R1 finals from this season onwards meant his score of 245.5 was a new world record.

Experienced German shooter Norbert Gau (243.4), a quadruple Paralympian, sealed second place. Thailand’s Atidet Intanon (222.2) made it onto the first individual World Cup podium of his career with third.

Ukraine’s Oleksii Denysiuk also landed on top of the podium for the second day in row.

Denysiuk dominated his P1 (men’s 10m air pistol SH1) event after winning the P3 (mixed 25m pistol SH1) on Wednesday.

Another shooter to capitalise on the revised finals format, the 28-year-old shot a new world record of 234.1.

Sweden’s Joackim Norberg (226.9), the Paralympic silver medallist, was second. Poland’s Szymon Sowinski (210.9) rounded off the podium.

The United Arab Emirates’ Abdulla Alahbabi (616.3) won gold for the hosts in R9 (mixed 50m rifle prone SH2).

Alahbabi claimed the win by leading in five out of six series, only wavering slightly in the sixth. Norway’s Heidi Kristin Soerlie-Rogne (614.8) secured second. Sweden’s Ellinor Axelsson Vaughn reached a new junior world record with her score of 609.3, occupying third place on the podium.

Competition continues in Al Ain on Friday (24 February) with P2 (women’s 10m air pistol SH1), P5 (mixed 10m air pistol standard SH1) and R2 (women’s 10m air rifle standing SH1)

Live results are available at World Shooting Para Sport website.

Updates, pictures and videos are also available on Facebook and Twitter and Instagram (@ShootingPara).