Dual Olympic gold medallist Michael Diamond has narrowly missed out on a place in the 2010 ISSF World Shooting Championship final despite a tremendous fight back
Dual Olympic gold medallist Michael Diamond has narrowly missed out on a place in the 2010 ISSF World Shooting Championship final despite a tremendous fight back on the second day of the men’s trap in Munich, Germany.
Diamond entered the second day of competition on a score of 72 from 75 targets, before firing a score of 24 from 25 in his penultimate round early on Tuesday.
Heading into the final round of competition Diamond was sitting two targets outside the top six to make the final but produced a stunning perfect round of 25 to make a seven way shoot-off for the last two places in the final.
The 38-year-old Gold Coast resident narrowly missed his first shot in the shoot-off to bow out of the competition but “I had a bit of a rough last round yesterday and missed my last three targets to end up with a 72,” Diamond said.
“It is actually the first time I have missed the last three but that happens.
“I was really happy with the comeback today but it is still a bit disappointing to not be able to make the shot in the shoot-off to make the final. I knew 25 was going to be enough in my last round so battened down the hatches.”
Diamond remains as the most successful shooter still competing internationally and will now turn his focus to the 2010 Commonwealth Games where he will look to add to the two men’s trap gold medals he has already won at Commonwealth level.
“The competition will be tough and the Indians in particular have improved over the last few years. We’re still going to have to work very hard, but fingers crossed.”
Adam Vella finished on a total of 119, after shooting rounds of 24 and 23 on Tuesday and will now turn his focus to his Commonwealth Games preparation.
Australian Shooting International Ltd.