Competing along with Dane Sampson, Hoberg finished a credible 21st with a qualifying score of 625.6 points – a mere 3.6 points off qualifying for the final, while Sampson was placed 30th after registering 623.5 points.

Hoberg, 19, was in fourth place after the first 20 of 60 qualifying shots, but unable to maintain his hot start over the remaining 40 shots.

“I was pretty happy with it, but a little disappointed at the end,” said Hoberg.

“A lot of pressure was alleviated with my first shot. I was like ‘I’m an Olympian now’,” he said.

“The first 20 shots were really good. After that, I was maybe a little over-confident and I probably let my guard down a little bit,” he added.

Sampson lamented some errors which proved to be costly.

“It was a bit rough. I didn’t have the control that I would like. There were too many mistakes and that dropped the score down,” he said.

Pistol athlete, Dina Aspandiyarova, and Sampson said the inability to compete overseas in the lead-up to the Olympics because of the unavoidable COVID-19 travel restrictions has hindered the team’s overall Games preparation. 

Aspandiyarova was placed 46th with a score of 558, and team-mate Elena Galiabovitch finished 27th with 569 points - just eight points behind qualifying for the final.

“To handle this type of pressure, you need to be exposed to the same level of pressure and obviously we did not have any international competition over the past 18 months,” said Aspandiyarova.

Aspandiyarova, who is attending her fourth Olympics, also said she found it hard to adapt to the new 60-shot qualifying series compared to the previous 40-shot Olympic qualifying series.

“Most of my life I have shot matches of 40 shots and now we shoot 60 shots. It’s like a stayer and a sprinter. Today after 40 shots, I was absolutely drained physically and mentally, and my fifth series was a disaster,” she said.

Galiabovitch slipped out of finals contention scoring 90 from 100 points her last string of 10 shots.

“There were some good bits and some bits that definitely need improvement,” said Galiabovitch. 

“I came unstuck a bit in the last series, maybe overthinking a few things. But overall, I am pleased with my efforts and how I conducted myself well and I was true to my values.

“I really enjoyed the experience, the atmosphere and the environment and being part of that competition,” she added.

In the men’s Skeet, Paul Adams is well placed to stake a claim for a place in the final today after shooting a world class 73 from 75 targets to be just one target behind a top six finals berth.

Adams shot two perfect rounds of 25 targets before dropping two targets in his third round.

“If someone asked me would I take a score of 73 today, I would have immediately signed up for that,” said Adams.

“I was very happy with my first two rounds this morning and 23 in the last one was fine. There were a couple of little errors, but otherwise it was a very good day and I’m happy with that.

“I’m feeling confident, I’m shooting well and I’m in the groove, so I need to take it one more day,” he added.

Laura Coles was consistent in the women’s skeet with rounds of 24, 22 and 22 for an overall score of 68 from 75 targets and currently sits four targets behind the top six finals qualifying group.

Adams and Coles will contest two more rounds of 25 targets tomorrow morning with the top six shooters progressing to the final this afternoon.

Greg Campbell