China, Iran, Serbia and Russia atop of the podium at the ISSF World Cup Final in Munich

The second-last day of competitions at the 2015 ISSF World Cup Final held in Munich, Germany, saw another success of the 19-year old shooting sport prodigy Yang Haoran of China. The reigning world champion secured the 10m Air Rifle Men world cup title, adding another medal to his trophies showcase.

"I am so happy with this medal, because this is my first gold in the whole year," he said. "This season it hasn't been that good for me." Yang explained. "I had several physical problems, I believe because of the stress of all the competitions I participated in. I just have to accept it, that happens, I need to rest a bit now."

Competing among the best rifle shooters of the world, selected throughout this year's four world cup stages, Yang collected 207.0 points in the final. Enough to beat Oleh Tsarkov of the Ukraine (27) - who landed in second place with 206.6 points - and Milutin Stefanovic of Serbia (30), who took bronze with 184.6 points.

Yang, currently standing atop of the world ranking in this event, didn't achieve something new to him, today. The young athlete has already won all major international titles since the 2013 ISSF World Cup Final. And he did that in two different age categories, securing Gold at the Youth Olympic Games in Nanjing, as well as at the ISSF World Championship and at the Asian Games in 2014. Lifting another trophy, today, he looks forward to the season to come, the most important of his career. "Today's medal feels great, but nothing is set, I will have to work hard," said the shooting star who keeps his feet on the ground, speaking about his road to Rio. "There will be selection matches for the Olympics, back in China. I will do my best to have the opportunity to be part of the Rio team. All my teammates are excellent shooters, and it won't be easy."

Earlier today, Iran's Elaheh Ahmadi (33) claimed gold at the 10m Air Rifle Women event, finishing atop of the podium after a neck and neck duel against India's Apurvi Chandela (22). Ahmadi scored 207.5 points, securing the brightest medal with 0.6 points of advantage on her Indian opponent, who finished in second place with 206.9 points. Andrea Arsovic of Serbia (28) joined them on the podium, pocketing the bronze medal with 186.4 points.

The 2010 World Champion Zorana Arunovic of Serbia (28) finished in the spotlights at the following 10m Air Pistol Women final. The Serbian athlete, coming from a victory at the European Games in Baku and wearing a world cup gold claimed at the Gabala's stage last August, had never won a world cup title, before. She scored 198.5 points, beating today's silver medallist Anna Korakaki of Greece (19) at the last shot. Korakai was indeed leading the match with over one point of advantage on Arunovic, when she fired a frustrating 8.4-point last shot, sliding down in second place with a total score of 198.3 points and giving a chance to the Serbian finalist to move up into the lead. Bronze went to Russia's Liubov Yaskevich (30), with 178.9 points. "I am really happy that I managed to get a gold which I did not expect. I basically won it at the last shot, and I did not even realize it. I understood I had won just a few second after the last shot, as the photographers run to me," Arunovic said after the match. "I have been a bit lucky, today."

At the second pistol final of the day, it was Athens 2004's Olympic Bronze medallist Valdimir Isakov of Russia (40) who secured the men's 10m Air Pistol Cup, winning his second air pistol world cup title eight years after his first victory in 2007. The Russian athlete scored 200.7 points, beating Portugal's Joao Costa (50) – the European Games silver medallist – who finished in second with 196.5 points. The Portuguese shooter lost his chances to win gold at the last two shots, as he fired twice in the eighth ring, ending up 4.2 points behind Isakov. The 2014 Youth Olympic Games silver medallist, and winner of the last world cup stage of the season Kim Cheongyong (KOR) joined them on the podium, taking the Bronze with 177.5 points. His teammate Jin Jongoh, the 35-year old reigning Olympic and World Champion, finished in seventh place with 97.9 points.

For more information, contact:

Marco DALLA DEA

ISSF Communication Manager

marco@issf-sports.org

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