Maltese Double Trap shooter William Chetcuti made history yesterday when he scored his first major success in his career as he won the International Sport Shooting Federation (ISSF) World Cup in Beijing, China.
In the process, Chetcuti also qualified to take part in next year’s London 2012 Olympic Games – the first time ever that he has qualified for the Olympics after winning a quota.
The 26-year old shooter from Manikata claimed Gold at the Double Trap Men’s final, finishing on the highest step of the podium with a total score of 185 targets.
Entering the final in fourth place with a qualification score of 141 hits (46, 46 and an excellent 49) out of 150 targets, the Maltese athlete hit 44 clays throughout the final match (the barrage), pocketing the brightest medal and the Olympic Quota.
“This is the first World Cup Gold medal and the first Olympic Quota ever won by a Maltese shooter. I feel really proud and happy!” Chetcuti said.
“We always got wild cards to go to the Games in the past. I have been looking for this qualification for years. When I was competing well, there were no quotas to win. And when quotas were there, I missed them by one target or so…”
“I started when I was a 10-year old, as my father introduced me to shooting. Finally, after 15 years, my Olympic dream comes true.” The 25-year old concluded.
Chetcuti was accompanied by his coach Jimmy Bugeja.
In the hurdles for the Quota, Chetcuti and Sodhi beat the home shooter Li Jun, a 25-year old Chinese athlete who had participate only once in the ISSF World Cup Series before, back in 2004. Li qualified to participate in the match in sixth and last place with 140 hits, climbing then the scoreboard to the third place to win the bronze with the total score of 182 targets.
The 2008 World Cup final winner, Sweden’s Hakan Dahlby, placed fourth with a total score of 180 (143+37) hits missing the Quota. Russia’s Mosin and Fokeev followed him in fifth and sixth places with a score of 177 and 176 hits respectively.
The Maltese Olympic Committee president Mr Justice Lino Farrugia Sacco and the chairman of the Kunsill Malti ghall-iSport, Bernard Vassallo, were among the first to congratulate Chetcuti on his achievement.
The MOC said in a short statement that this result confirms the potential of the Maltese shooter and the progress he has registered during the past few years.
It also said it hoped that this success would prove to be a source of motivation to other athletes.
Vassallo also congratulated Chetcuti for his wonderful feat.
In another statement, the KMS said that it was proud that Chetcuti, who is a KMS employee, and benefiting fully to train full time since 2005, has again achieved a formidable result.
A big well done also went to the Malta Shooting Sports Federation MSSF.