Cainero, Tomacek win skeet gold at Qatar Open Shotgun

Italian women dominated the Skeet event of the Qatar Open Shotgun championship as Chiara Cainero and Diana Bacosi won gold and bronze respectively.On the last day of the nine-day championship hosted by Qatar Shooting and Archery Association (QSSA), 39-year-old Cainero overcame stiff challenge of Lucie Anastassiou of France to collect the $7,000 cash prize.Beijing Olympic Games winner Cainero scored 52, one more than Anastassiou, the Rio games winner, in the final and clinched the top spot at the Losail Shooting Range.  Bacosi of Italy took the bronze medal with a score of 43, while 2016 winner Amber Hill Great Britain finished fourth with 33 hits.Cainero was delighted to finish on the podium along with Bacosi.“It was difficult because of the wind, but I am happy to be in the final along with another Olympic champ and teammate (Bacosi) as we are used to finishing on the podium,” she told Gulf Times.Incidentally at the last Olympic Games in the Brazilian city, the Italians made it 1-2 in the skeet event.The four-time Olympian also praised the facilities at Losail.“It is always a nice experience to start the season in Qatar. The facilities are excellent here. The Losail Shooting Range is same as any Olympic shooting ranges you will find in any part of the world. It is one of the best. We love to compete here and the weather here is fantastic as it is winter in Italy at this time of the year,” Cainero, who has been a regular at the shot gun event, said.“I first took part in an event in 2006. I was very young at that time,” she recalled.Cainero said she will be taking part in an event in South Korea and the victory here will serve as an ideal preparation of the season ahead.“I am happy with my form and the training we had here,” she said.Anastassiou was very happy to finish on the podium with two Olympic champions. “The competition was tough and I am happy that I had the privilege to share the podium with two Olympic champions. I am glad.”Hill, who was aiming to repeat her 2016 gold medal winning effort found the going tough.“It was a strong field with two Olympic champions. But I am happy with my performance. Although, I was aiming for a repeat of 2016, when I won the event, but overall I am happy with my performance and the result,” said the 20-year-old.In the men’s section, 26-year-old Jakub Tomacek of Czech Republic topped the Skeet event followed by Jesper Hansen of Denmark. The 2008 Olympic Games bronze medal winner Anthony Terras of France finished third. Qatar’s Sheikh Mohamed al-Thani and Nasser al-Attiyah finished 12th and 25th respectively.In the men’s junior section, Qatar’s Abdulla Rashdan and Mohamed Ahmed al-Khulaifi finished one-two, with Lithuania’s Tomas Vaitekunas winning bronze.In the women’s junior section, Alisa Bogdanova of Lithuania won gold, while Britain’s Madeleine Boyd and Qatar’s Fatma al-Muraikhi claimed silver and bronze, respectively.RESULTS (top three)Women’s Skeet1. Chiara Cainero (ITA) (23 24 25 23 25) 120+6 (Q) & 52 (Final)2. Lucie Anastassiou (FRA) (25 24 25 23 24) 121+4 & 513. Diana Bacosi (ITA) (25 24 25 24 20) 118 & 43Men’s Skeet1. Jakub Tomacek (CZE) (25 25 24 24 24) 122+13 (Q) 54+6 (Final)2. Jesper Hansen (DEN) (24 25 25 25 25) 124 & 54+53. Anthony Terras (FRA) (25 24 25 24 24) 122+6 & 45Jr Men’s Skeet1. Abdulla Rashdan (QAT) (22 22 24 22 23) 1132. Mohamed al-Khulaifi (QAT) (22 20 21 20 23) 1063.  Tomas Vaitekunas (LTU) (22 20 18 21 19) 100Jr Women’s Skeet1.  Alisa Bogdanova (LTU) (23 23 21 22 23) 1122.  Madeleine Boyd (GBR) (23 18 20 24 23) 1083. Fatma al-Muraikhi (QAT) (24 20 16 17 20) 97