体坛英语新闻：World champion Zhang wins China's 3rd gold at shooting World Cup

MUNICH, May 29 (Xinhua) -- Reigning world champion Zhang Jingjing Friday claimed the third gold medal for China out of four events in two days at the shooting World Cup.

Zhang, 27, qualified for the gold-medal match of women's 25-meter pistol event together with Thailand's Tanyaporn Prucksakorn after shooting consistently throughout the semifinal. In the final round, the 2014 world champion led since the first series and sealed the win 7-1.

"Even if I am the reigning world champion and I have an Olympic quota place, there's always a lot of pressure in these international competitions," Zhang told the International Shooting Sport Federation.

"I love shooting sport, I have always been interested in it. It's a family thing, as my father was also a shooter. It's an addictive sport, and I chose the pistol even if I think it's one of the most challenging," she said.

Prucksakorn, despite a disappointing final round, consoled herself with an Olympic ticket for her country. Yuliya Alipova from Russia claimed the bronze medal after beating Bulgaria's Antoaneta Boneva.

Earlier in the day, Zhang Jingjing's young compatriot Zhang Bowen won a silver medal in the men's 50m pistol event, only behind Portugal's four-time Olympian Joao Costa.

Costa, 50, ruled the final by scoring 194.7 points, winning his third World Cup gold medal in Munich and also in the whole 23 years of career.

It was also a satisfactory result for Chinese teenager Zhang. Despite starting the final in the lower end of the table, the 19-year-old climbed up the scoreboard patiently and finished on the second place with 188.5 points in his second World Cup experience.

Zhang only started to compete in adult category this year and won a gold medal in his first attempt in Changwon, South Korea, in April.

The bronze medal went to Japanese veteran Tomoyuki Matsuda, who also claimed an Olympic quota place for his country.

The World Cup in Munich was the third leg for the rifle and pistol events of the year. On the opening day, China's Olympic champions Zhu Qinan and Yi Siling each won a gold medal in the men's and women's 10m air rifle events.