Zhang, 25, had won an International Shooting Sport Federation World Cup event in Granada last year and she demonstrated once again that she enjoys the Spanish surroundings by claiming gold ahead of her rival.

The Chinese shooter was a model of consistency throughout and did not give 21-year-old Kim any opportunities in the final winning 7-1.

The bronze medal went to Hungary's Renata Tobai Sike, who overcame North Korean Jo Young Suk 10-8 in a close contest which lasted for nine rounds.

Stephanie Tirode of France secured the final qualification spot for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.

A shoot-off was needed to decide the winner in the men's trap competition after Slovakia's Erik Varga and Great Britain's Edward Ling were locked together with a score of 12 hits out of 15 targets at the end of the gold medal match.

But, 20 years after winning the junior world title, it was Varga who prevailed, hitting five targets compared to Ling's four to become world champion.

Itay's defending champion Giovanni Pellielo had to settle for bronze but had the consolation of securing the last qualifying slot for Rio 2016, which is set to his seventh Olympic Games.

An emotional Pellielo dedicated his medal to his father Ugo who passed away last year.

"I won seven World Championship medals in my career, but this is a special one," said the 44-year-old Giovanni.

"This has been the most difficult season of my life.

"I have lost my father Ugo last year, and I went through a tough period.

"This medal is for my father."

Giovanni Pellielo dedicated his bronze medal in Granada to his father who died last year ©ISSF



In the men's junior trap event it was gold for Irishman Ian O'Sullivan, who beat Australia's Jack Wallace 13-11 in the final, with bronze going to Britain's Nathan Hales.

The 18-year-old O'Sullivan hit ten targets in-a-row in the final and, despite missing the next two, managed to hold on for the win.

"It was hard, but I managed to get through," he said.

"I will tell them [friends and family] that I'm the world champion.

"I don't know if they will believe me."

The women's junior 25m pistol crown went the way of France's Mathilde Lamolle after she fired her way to a 7-1 victory over Lin Yuemei of China, while Bulgaria's Lidia Nencheva overcame South Korean Jeong Yeonse for the bronze medal.

Contact the writer of this story at [email protected]


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