China launches gold rush on Day 8 on Men's 25m rapid fire pistol

(BEIJING, April 19) -- Sergei Alifirenko of Russia reached the final of the men's 25m rapid fire pistol event as the top seed with a total score of 586 at the Good Luck Beijing 2008 ISSF World Cup on Saturday, April 19, at the Beijing Shooting Range Hall.

Current world No. one shooter according to ISSF ranking, Chinese Zhang Penghui, placed 13th in the first stage of qualification on Friday moved to the second place with the score of 582 points, followed by Ralf Schumann of Germany, also with 582 points.

Another host shooter Chen Yongqiang failed to edge into the top six and placed the tenth.

The third place German shooter, forty-four-year-old shooter Ralf Schumann was the three-time Olympic champion and holds the current world record of 788.8.

Six qualifiers will compete for the men's 25m rapid fire pistol gold medal earlier this afternoon.

The results of the second stage of men's 25m rapid fire pistol qualification:

1. Sergei Alifirenko of Russia, 586

2. Zhang Penghui of China, 582

3. Ralf Schumann of Germany, 582

4. Sangjun Cha of Korea, 581

5. Leuris Pupo of Cuba, 581

6. Alexei Klimov of Russia, 581