SHOOTING: 17-year-old Siarhei Yauhlevski (Berwick, VIC) has displayed remarkable talent by winning the bronze medal in 25m Rapid Fire Pistol, at the International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) Junior Cup, in Suhl, Germany, overnight.
The Berwick High School student qualified for the finals on a score of 562, whilst fellow Aussie Thomas Ashmore (ACT) qualified one point ahead on 563.
In the final, Ashmore finished in fifth place whilst Yauhlevski won the bronze medal, at his first international competition overseas.
National Pistol Coach Vladimir Galiabovitch was pleased with Yauhlevski’s performance.
“Siarhei’s performance has been consistent, and considering that he has only been shooting this match for one year, it is a good performance,” Galiabovitch said.
Yauhlevski is the son of Belarus-born Lalita Yauhleuskaya, who is a Sydney Olympic bronze medallist and 2014 Commonwealth Games bronze medallist.
“The qualification was my personal best in an international competition. I found the start of the final a bit nerve-racking but felt confident enough to pull off a medal,” Siarhei said.
Across the range, Australian juniors continued to shine.
10m Air Rifle athlete Jack Rossiter (Onkaparinga Hills, SA) recorded an incredible 625.1 qualifying score, and went on to finish in seventh place.
“I was really pleased with my qualification, which was one of my best scores. The final wasn’t good, but I learned a lot from the experience,” Rossiter told Shooting Australia.
In Trap Men, Mitchell Iles (Hurstbridge, VIC) is leading the field on a clear 50/50 after day one of qualification.
The youngest member of the squad, Women’s Skeet athlete Aislin Jones (Lakes Entrance, VIC) is sitting on 46/50 targets after two rounds of qualification.
In Trap Women, Penny Smith (Bookaar, VIC) has shot 43/50 after two rounds of qualification.
Competition continues today, with the finals due tomorrow.
A majority of the juniors at the ISSF Junior Cup have been funded by the Australian Commonwealth Games Association’s NextGen 2015 Squad program.
Shooting Australia
