Ukrainian stands atop Men's 25m Rapid Fire Pistol Qualification, stage one

(BEIJING, April 18) -- Taras Magmet of Ukraine stood top among six qualified shooters, with a score of 293 in the first stage of the 25m Rapid Fire Pistol Qualification during the Good Luck Beijing 2008 ISSF World Cup on Friday, April 18, at the Beijing Shooting Range Hall.

Martin Strnad of Czech Republic placed second with an identical score. He was followed by German shooter Ralf Schumann with 291 points.

The host team's aim for gold tottered when only one shooter, Chen Yongqiang, squashed into the top six as the last seed.

The second stage of the qualification will be held on Saturday morning with six qualifiers to be confirmed. A total of twelve qualifiers will enter the gold rush on Saturday afternoon in the final event, starting at 1:30 p.m.

The results of the Men's 25m Rapid Fire Pistol Qual-Stg. 1:

1. Taras Magmet of Ukraine, 293

2. Martin Strnad of Czech Republic, 293

3. Ralf Schumann of Germany, 291

4. Sergei Alifirenko of Russia, 291

5. Alexei Klimov of Russia, 290

6. Chen Yongqiang, 290