Danka Bartekova (centre) of Slovakia, winner of the skeet title at the Qatar Total Open, celebrates on the podium at the Losail Shooting Range, after receiving the winner's cheque from Qatar Shooting and Archery Association (QSAA) General Secretary Ahmed
London Olympic Games bronze medallist Danka Barteková of Slovakia won the women’s skeet title at the Qatar Total Open at the Losail Shooting Range yesterday.
The 32-year-old, an alumni of University of Matej Bel, Banska Bystrica, Slovakia, came on top in a field of 32 shooters.
Barteková, a member of the IOC Athletes' Commission since 2012, overcame the challenge of veteran Russian shooter Svetlana Demina in the medal rounds.
"I'm very happy because we had very difficult weather conditions. It was thirteen degrees and the winds were strong, which reflected in the scores," said the winner.
"I am satisfied, although I have lot of hard work to do and improve my performance. But I know that I on the right track.
"I am happy that i won the first medal of the year. As for the final round I did not know what to expect. It was focused from the beginning and found the target and my tactics worked, "said Barteková.
The 55-year-old Demina, a silver medal at the 2000 Olympic Games having compete at five Olympic Games from 1988 to 2008, took the silver.
Another Russian Marina Belikova took the bronze.
The 32-year-old Russian, winner of a silver medal at the 2011 European Shooting Championships in Belgrade, Serbia, shot 11 targets less then the winner. Barteková shot 53 in the final rounds while Demina had a scorecard of 48.
Qatar’s Sarah Mohamed finished eight after failing to score in the three-way shoot-out for the last qualifying place in the final after finishing behind Vanessa Hauff and Russia’s Anastasiia Krakhmaleva. Last year's winner Amber Hill of Britain came sixth. The final round of the men's skeet will take place today, the last event of the nine-day competition.
