Action begun today at the ISSF Shotgun World Championships in Moscow ©ISSF

Hungary’s Norbert Hegyi was among a trio of athletes to shoot a perfect 50 after two rounds of the men’s trap competition as action begun today at the International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) Shotgun World Championships in Moscow.

Hegyi was joined by Japan’s Shigetaka Oyama and Czech Republic’s Jiri Liptak in achieving the feat at the Foxlodge Shooting Range.

Of the three shooters, only Liptak has a World Championship medal to his name having secured bronze in German city Munich in 2010.

Twelve athletes are just behind with 49 target hits out of 50, including four-time World Cup gold medallist Alberto Fernandez of Spain.

London 2012 Olympic champion Giovanni Cernogoraz of Croatia and four-time Olympic medallist Giovanni Pellielo of Italy are also one off the pace. 

Cernogoraz’s compatriot Josip Glasnović, the Rio 2016 Olympic champion, currently holds 29th position with 47 hits.

Italy's Jessica Rossi led the way in the women's trap qualification ©Getty Images
Italy's Jessica Rossi led the way in the women's trap qualification ©Getty Images

In the women’s trap qualification, London 2012 Olympic champion Jessica Rossi of Italy claimed the top position.

She was followed by San Marino’s Arianna Perilli, team-mate Silvana Stanco and Finland's Marika Salmi as they all finished with 48 hits.

The four shooters were followed by a group of eight athletes who concluded the first two rounds of qualification with 47.

Among them was Rio 2016 Olympic champion Catherine Skinner of Australia, 2015 ISSF world champion Fatima Galvez of Spain and World Cup gold medallists Ray Bassil of Lebanon, Ashley Carroll of the United States and Wang Xiaojing of China.

The women’s trap final is scheduled for tomorrow, while the men’s trap final is due to take place on Sunday (September 3).