Podium winners of the event, (from left) Nikita Egorov, Wallace and Hamad Alkendi pose for a photograph during an event after Qatar Open Shotgun championship at the Losail Shooting Range yesterday.
US Olympic Training Centre resident athlete Casey Wallace walked away with the top place in the men’s Trap event of the Qatar Open Shotgun championship at the Losail Shooting Range yesterday.
The 27-year-old, a Colorado Springs resident, topped the field of 33 athletes, taking home the top prize, while yet another young upcoming shooter Nikita Egorov of Russia clinched the silver.
The 21-year-old Russian, who came through the junior ranks of the national team, shot four targets less than the eventual winner in the final round, in which six shooters qualified, to finish second.
On a day where two young shooters grabbed the spotlight, it was veteran Hamad Alkendi of UAE, who took the bronze.
The 47-year-old, finished with a score of 32 in the final round to take the third place, while Piotr Kowalczyk of Poland came fourth followed by Thomas Ward (Great Britian) and Talal Al Rashidi of Kuwait.
Skeet, Trap and Double Trap Finals rules have undergone a change from the current semifinal-medal match format to a progressive elimination Final. All Trap finalists will shoot 25 targets with eliminations or medal decisions occurring after 25, 30, 35, 40 and 50 targets.
Wallace, who was introduced to the shotgun sports at 11 after breaking his hips, which forced him into a wheelchair for 23 months, was happy to open his medal account for the 2017 season in Qatar.
“It was my first outing in Doha, the conditions were a bit tough. I am very delighted with the win in the very first tournament of the season,” said Wallace.
“It is always good to win the gold and get some extra bugs as prize money. The competition was tough as all the shooters are of top quality, but I kept my cool to emerge winner,” he added.
“I am I am impressed with the facilities here (at Losail). The range is very good and the targets were also perfect,” Wallace said about the facilities at the Losail Shooting Range.
“I am feeling more confident after the win for the World Cup in Delhi (which starts on February 23). I hope to carry by winning touch to the World Cup,” said the 2012 Lindenwood University graduate.
The American got hooked to shooting after he saw a shooting program on one of the outdoor networks and thought that it was something he could do from a chair.
He started shooting from a chair, and progressed to international competitions when he was able to walk again.
