Diana Bacosi took a liking to it and, for the second time in the space of two weeks, climbed to the top of the podium at the Concaverde in Lonato del Garda for the gold in the Women’s Skeet. After the title of European Champion won at the end of May, the representative of the Italian Army originally from Cetona (SI) also took gold in the World Cup, the last official event before the Paris 2024 Games.
In the final, thanks to the 120/125 +9 of the qualifiers, which assigned her number five, Diana closed in with absolute concentration, not caring about the technical caliber of her opponents, and with a sumptuous performance she climbed the rankings until reaching at the top of the podium with 57/60.
“Exactly as happened at the European Championship, I faced an uphill race, putting myself in a position to reach the final stages of the qualifications with the categorical imperative of not making mistakes – said the Olympic champion of Rio 2016 and silver medalist at Tokyo 2020 – Once I entered the final I had to compete with high-level shooters such as the Americans and the Swede. It wasn’t easy or even obvious to reach gold. I concentrated on my clay targets. Only on those, not thinking about anything else. I am happy with this confirmation. There is still something to sort out before the Games, but I have plenty of time to do it. Tomorrow I will be on the platform with Tammaro (Cassandro, ed.) for the Mixed and I will give my best. Then a bit of rest before getting back to work to face the most important event of the four-year period.”
On the podium with the Italian were the Americans Dania Jo Vizzi, silver, and Austen Jewell Smith, bronze.
The other two Italians competing were far from the final. Twenty-first Martina Bartolomei (Aeronautica Militare) from Laterina (AR) with 116/125, and twenty-seventh Martina Maruzzo from Nanto (VI) with 115/125.
In the men’s competition none of Technical Director Andrea Benelli’s Italians reached the final. The best of ours was Elia Sdruccioli (Army) from Ostra (AN), fourteenth with 122/125, while Gabriele Rossetti (Fiamme Oro) from Ponte Buggianese (PT) and Tammaro Cassandro (Carabinieri) from Capua (CE) stopped, respectively, in twenty-ninth position with 120/125 and fifty-fifth with 118/125.
Excellent performances by Erik Pittini (Fiamme Oro) from Sutrio (UD) and Niccolò Sodi (Aeronautica Militare) from Arezzo. Both competing only for Ranking points they concluded the five series with an almost perfect 124/125. Among the RPOs also Sara Bongini (Fiamme Oro) from Impruneta (FI) who finished with 111/125.
Tomorrow the World Cup will end with the Mixed Team race. The pairs Bacosi-Cassandro and Rossetti-Bartolomei will compete for Italy. The medal matches will start at 3.00 pm.
RESULTS
Men’s Skeet: 1st Jesper HANSEN (DEN) 12/125 (+12) – 54/60; 2nd Conner Lynn PRINCE (USA) 123/125 (+11) – 53/60; 3rd Rashid Saleh AL-ATHBA (QAT) 123/125 (+7) – 44/50; 4th Dainis UPELNIEKS (LAT) 123/125 (+12) – 34/40; 5th Hector Andres FLORES BARAHONA (CHI) 124/125 (+1) – 24/30; 6th Eric DELAUNAY (FRA) 124/125 (+11) – 17/20; 14th Elia SDRUCCIOLI 122/125; 29th Gabriele ROSSETTI 120/125; 55th Tammaro CASSANDRO 118/125.
RPO Male: 8th Erik PITTINI (ITA) 124/125; 9th Niccolò SODI (ITA) 124/125.
Women’s Skeet: 1st Diana BACOSI (ITA) 120/125 (+9) – 57/6; 2nd Dania Jo VIZZI (USA) 121/125 (14) – 56/60; 3rd Austen Jewell SMITH (USA) 121/125 (+13) – 45/50; 4th Samantha SIMONTON (USA) 120/125 (+10) – 36/40; 5th Victoria LARSSON (SWE) 121/125 (+3) – 24/30; 6th Ganemat SEKHON (IND) 120/125 (+3) – 16/20; 21st Martina BARTOLOMEI (ITA) 116/125; 27th Martina MARUZZO (ITA) 115/125.
RPO Female: 40th Sara BONGINI (ITA) 111/125;
THE BLUE SKEET TEAM
Men: Tammaro Cassandro (Carabinieri) of Capua (CE); Gabriele Rossetti (Fiamme Oro) from Ponte Buggianese (PT); Elia Sdruccioli (Army) from Ostra (AN). RPO: Erik Pittini (Fiamme Oro) from Sutrio (UD); Niccolò Sodi (Air Force) of Arezzo.
Ladies: Diana Bacosi (Army) from Cetona (SI); Martina Bartolomei (Air Force) from Laterina (AR); Martina Maruzzo from Nanto (VI). RPO: Sara Bongini (Fiamme Oro) from Impruneta (FI).
Technical director: Andrea Benelli.
Athletic trainer: Fabio Partigiani
PLAN
Tuesday 18 June Mixed Team Skeet Qualifications
3.00 pm Medal Matches Mixed Team Skeet
5.30pm Awards ceremony
