Vadovicova takes win in comeback fashion

The 2017 World Para Sport Shooting Grand Prix opened with a thrilling elimination round in the R3 (mixed 10m air rifle prone) that saw Slovakia’s Veronika Vadovicova triumph in comeback fashion on Wednesday (26 April) in Szczecin, Poland.

Although trailing but never too far from Germany’s Natascha Hiltrop (252.6), the Slovakian capitalised on Hiltrop’s 9.7 score late in the elimination round to win by 0.4 points.

It has become a common scene with the two shooters battling for the R3 prize. Vadovicova twice triumphed over the 24-year-old German, recently at the season-opening World Cup in February and at the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games.

Fellow Slovakian Radoslav Malenovsky (231.2) rounded off the podium.

The opening day concluded with P2 (women’s 10m air pistol SH1), which also came down to the wire. It was Ukraine’s Olga Kovalchuk (229.9) who held on in the last round claim the top prize.

Sweden’s Yu-Jeong Bang (227.2) evened the score to position herself for her first career victory. But the 38-year-old could not match the Rio 2016 silver medallist’s perfection with her last two shots. Iryna Liakhu (204.8) added another medal for Ukraine for the day in third.

Competition continues on Thursday (27 April) with R2 (women’s 10m air rifle standing SH1) and R4 (mixed 10m air rifle standing SH2) events, and runs until Saturday (29 April).

Live results from the Grand Prix in Szczecin are available on World Shooting Para Sport’s website.

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