Victorian shooter Laetisha Scanlan has confirmed her status as one of the world’s best trap shooters when runner-up in the ISSF World Cup final in Al Ain, UAE, overnight.
The Frankston Australia Gun club shooter was edged out in the women’s trap final by USA’s Aeriel Alease Skinner with Italy’s Alessia Iezzi taking the bronze medal.
In a nail-biting final conducted in sweltering conditions, Scanlan held a two-shot lead after the first seven of ten rotations.
But Scanlan’s accuracy slipped in the eighth and ninth rotations when hitting three of five targets in each round, while the American shot two perfect rounds to snatch a two-shot lead going in to the final rotation.
Scanlan’s drew back a shot when Skinner missed her second target, but the American regained the advantage when Scanlan miss her third target.
“I came to the World Cup Final with the aim to medal for Australia and I am so proud to finish off the season with a silver medal. I’ve had a great 2019 and I am looking forward to a successful 2020,” said Scanlan.
Scanlan’s performance underlined her world class ability and now has her sights on the Tokyo Olympic Games in July next year.
Scanlan, 29, made her debut Olympic appearance at the 2016 Rio Olympic Games alongside women’s trap teammate, Catherine Skinner.
Scanlan shot 10/15 targets to finish fifth overall while Skinner went on to win gold for Australia.
Scanlan is also aiming to secure Tokyo Olympic selection in the mixed team trap alongside James Willett.
Scanlan and Willett secured the mixed team trap title at the World Shotgun Championship in Italy in July when edging aside Russia’s Iuliia Saveleva and Maksim Smykov. The final result was determined in a shoot-off after both teams hit 44 targets in the gold medal match.
It marked a successful outing for Australia in an event due to make its debut on the Olympic programme at Tokyo 2020 following changes approved by the ISSF.
The ISSF World Cup Final Shotgun Al Ain, UAE runs from 09 – 14 October. More information is available on the event website. World Shooting Para Sport Facebook and Twitter pages.
Greg Campbell – PRISM Strategics Communications