The 48-year-old Olympic champion from Sydney 2000 beat Britain's first-time participant Ben Llewellin in the final amid windy conditions in the Cypriot capital.

Gusts disturbed shooters from the qualification rounds onwards with Milchev, competing in his 52nd World Cup since 1986, using his experience to adapt to the weather the best.

In the final, both Milchev and Llewellin finished with 14 hits each to take proceedings to a shoot-off.

The veteran rolled backed the years to hit four targets compared to the 21-year-old's three, to secure the second World Cup gold of his career.

Llewellin had the consolation prize of a first medal at his first World Cup.

However, Great Britain does not have a quota place for Rio 2016.

"This is going to be my last Olympics," said Milchev, who qualified at the 2015 European Championship in Maribor.

"I will retire after Rio.

"The sport has been changing a lot in the last 16 years, since Sydney 2000.

"But the Olympics are always unique, and I am still motivated as I was at my first participation.

"I have been working a lot to improve my results, and to get ready for Rio, I am looking forward to it."

Milchev competed at Athens 2004 and Beijing 2008 as well as at Sydney 2000, but was absent at London 2012.

Vincent Hancock, a two-time Olympic champion for the United States, lost to Spain's 2011 world champion Juan Jose Aramburu in the bronze medal match.

The Spaniard scored 15 targets to Hancock's 14 to earn his place on the podium.

The World Cup continues tomorrow with the women's trap event.