Czech Republic's Jiri Liptak hits target to win men's shooting trap
In an all Czech Republic final Jiri Liptak holds his nerve to win men's shooting trap as his teammate David Kostelecky takes silver
Czech Republic’s Jiri Liptak gave Tokyo 2020 his best shot and walked away with a gold medal after a thrilling final of the men’s shooting trap.
The 39-year-old held his nerve to beat off a challenge from his teammate David Kostelecky, 46, who was making his sixth Olympic appearance, at the Asaka Shooting Range.
The top position changed hands between them and they finished tied for first place on 43 targets out of 50. But Liptak, who took silver in the European Championships and finished first after the qualifying rounds at Tokyo 2020, won when he hit seven targets to Kostelecky’s six in the shoot off.
“It was our big wish to stand next to each other on the podium and it happened here. It is huge," said Liptak after the event. “He [Kostelecky] is my longtime friend. We have been training for several years together. It is great for me to learn from him.
“I still kind of don't realise that I am the Olympic champion, but it feels good.”
It was our big wish to stand next to each other on the podium and it happened here. It is huge.
World and European champion in men’s trap, Great Britain’s Matthew Coward-Holley, took the bronze on 33 targets.
Mexico’s Jorge Martin Orozco Diaz, who at 21 had been the youngest competitor, had led the field in the first few rounds but trailed off to finish fourth on 28 targets. China’s YU Haicheng, 23, came fifth on 24 and Kuwait’s Abdulrahman Al Faihan, 35, was sixth on 18.
It had been a formidable field of athletes taking part in the men’s trap, but many failed to qualify for the final on Day 6 of the Games on 29 July. They included reigning Olympic champion Josip Glasnovic of Croatia, 38; Italy’s Mauro de Filippis, 40, the current ISSF World Cup winner and Spain’s Alberto Fernandez, 38, who is a three-time world champion, and world record holder.