| Aspandiyarova opens Olympic year with victory
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 MEDIA RELEASE
Tuesday 24 January 2012
Leading Australian pistol shooter Dina Aspandiyarova has opened her 2012 campaign by leading an Australian trifecta overnight at the Meyton Cup in Innsbruck, Austria.
Aspandiyarova, who later this year will more than likely compete at her third Olympic Games, won the gold medal in the women’s 10m air pistol ahead of team mates Lalita Yauhleuskaya and Emily Esposito.
Aspandiyarova, who is currently ranked number 13 in the world, enjoyed a consistent 2011 which saw her win an Olympic quota for Australia in the discipline, as well as feature in several international finals.
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| Superb trifecta for pistol shooters
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 Australian shooters continued their great run of form overnight at the Air Rifle/Air Pistol Meyton Cup in Innsbruck, Austria.
Following a strong start to the five day event in the same city as where the inaugural Youth Olympic Winter Games were held, Australia’s women pistol shooters filled the entire podium.
Dina Aspandiyarova, who is currently ranked at number 13 in the world, led the charge for the Australian team with a qualifying score of 382 to enter the final one point clear of fellow countrywoman and world number three, Lalita Yauhleuskaya. 18-year-old Emily Esposito equalled her personal best score of 379 and qualified for the final in third place before firing the highest score of all finalists.
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| Collard performance paves way for future of shooting
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 Australian junior Josh Collard showed that the future of men’s trap shooting is in safe hands with an excellent performance at the Australian Clay Target Association National Championships last weekend in Lake Macquarie.
Collard, who in the first of two events shot an impressive 116 before finishing 5th in the final, backed it up with his first ever Performance Qualifying Score in the final event.
The Victorian youngster, who in 2011 made his first appearance at a world championship with a solid 114 in Belgrade, Serbia, has improved greatly over the past 12 months and has begun to show signs he could succeed at the highest level.
Collard is part of the Focus 2016 Squad, which has become a large part of AISL’s planning and his improvement, is a clear sign that this strategy is beginning to bear fruit.
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| Diamond victory issues London warning
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 MEDIA RELEASE
Thursday 19 January 2012
Dual Olympic gold medallist Michael Diamond has started 2012 in ominous form as he cruised to victory in the Commonwealth men’s trap title at the 2012 Australian Clay Target Association National Championships in Lake Macquarie.
Diamond, who later this year will aim to become the first clay target shooter to win three Olympic gold medals, took a five target lead into the final before winning by three from 2004 Olympic Games bronze medallist Adam Vella.
Diamond qualified for the final with a dazzling 122 targets from 125, before shooting 18 in the single barrel final for an overall score of 140.
Vella hit 20 in the final after qualifying with a score of 117, while Michael McNabb claimed third place.
Diamond, who is likely to be nominated to the Australian Olympic Committee at the end of April, will appear at his sixth Olympic Games if selected for London.
The 39-year-old’s Olympic record speaks for itself with Diamond, aside from the gold medals he won in 1996 and 2000, finishing 4th, 8th and 11th in his other three appearances.
The Gold Coast resident said all his efforts were being channelled towards a successful Olympic campaign.
“The targets are really good here and the background was also pretty kind to us this week and the club have done a fantastic job to get the grounds looking so nice,” Diamond said.
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