Russia's Alexey Alipov claimed men's trap gold with a dominant display in Gabala ©ISSF

Russia’s Alexey Alipov claimed the final International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) World Cup gold medal of the regular season as he beat Croatia's Olympic champion Giovanni Cernogoraz to top the men’s trap podium in Gabala, Azerbaijan.

The 40-year-old, winner of the event at the European Games in Baku in June, hit all 15 targets in the final to secure victory over Cernogoraz to end the event in style.

Cernogoraz ’s one missed target proved costly but, despite his defeat in the gold medal match-up, he was able to add an all-important Rio 2016 Olympic Games quota place to his silver medal.

Alipov, the Olympic champion in Athens 2004 and a bronze medallist in Beijing four years later, had endured a difficult season but his win ensured he goes in to the upcoming ISSF World Cup finals in confident mood.

Italian shooter Erminio Frasca rounded off the podium by taking bronze following victory against Turkey’s Erdinc Kebapci, who sealed the second available Olympic quota berth thanks to his fourth-place finish.

China claimed top spot in the overall medal standings with 12 medals, including six gold, ahead of the United States and Russia, who both finished the event with five medals, each clinching two golds.

Giovanni Cernogoraz of Croatia claimed silver as well as a Rio 2016 Olympic quota place
Giovanni Cernogoraz of Croatia claimed silver as well as a Rio 2016 Olympic quota place ©Getty Images

"It feels great to be back atop of the podium," Alipov said.

"The ISSF rules changed after the last Games and it took me a while to get used to it.

"But finally I made it, I am back."

Alipov was in good form throughout the competition as he was one target shy of recording a perfect score of 125 in the qualification round before hitting all 15 in the semi-final.

He was then able to replicate that display in the gold medal contest, handing him a dominant victory over his opponent, who scored 14 in the semi-final and 123 in the qualification round.

Following the conclusion of the regular ISSF World Cup season in Gabala, attention now turns to the finals, with pistol and rifle events due to take place from September 1 to 7 in Munich.

The shotgun competitions then come to the fore from October 15 to 21 in the Cypriot capital Nicosia.


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