Chinese rifle shooters shine at Munich World Cup

MUNICH - Olympic champions Zhu Qinan and Yi Siling each won a gold medal for China at the shooting World Cup here on Thursday.

The Chinese shooters dominated the opening day as Zhu claimed the gold at the men's 10-meter air rifle while Yi followed up by winning the women's event.

Zhu, 30, scored 206.0 points in the final and bested Russia's 20-year-old Vladimir Maslennikov, who missed an outstanding comeback for 0.3 points, winning the silver medal.

"I have already won an Olympic quota, and that takes a lot of pressure out of the game. We are all preparing at our best for the 2016 Olympic Games. I really hope everything will go in the best way, and to be honest I am quite relaxed right now. The Games are still one year away," Zhu told the International Shooting Sport Federation after the match.

After winning a gold medal in Athens 2004 and a silver in Beijing 2008, he missed the final in London 2012. And now the 30-year-old sharpshooter is trying to take part in his fourth Olympic Games.

Ukraine's Oleh Tsarkov, 27, finished third with 184.2 points.

Yi, the reigning Olympic champion, won an outstanding high-level women's 10m air rifle final by scoring 209.8 points without a single shot outside of the 10th ring.

"I am so proud of this medal. It's never easy here in Munich," said Yi after the medal ceremony. "We have qualifying matches to select our Olympic team, so I still don't know if I will be going to the Olympics, but I hope so. I am working hard to prepare at my best."

Croatia's Valentina Gustin, 18, claimed the silver medal with 207.3 points while the bronze medal went to China's Chen Dongqi on 184.3 points.

The World Cup in Munich was the third leg for the rifle and pistol events of the year.