Federico Gil of Argentina impressed in Lima ©Getty Images

French shooter Lucie Anastassiou was among the athletes who shone on the first day of skeet qualifying at the International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) Shotgun World Cup in Lima.

Anastassiou scored 72 points after three rounds of 24 to lead the way, followed by the American trio Austen Smith, Dania Vizzi and Caitlin Connor alongside Italian Katiuscia Spada - all on 71 points. 

Michelle Elliot of Barbados started stronger than everyone thanks to 25 in round one, but her performance level dropped in the following two rounds, where she earned 17 and 20 points. 

Elliot is currently sitting 12th in the standings. 

Lucie Anastassiou of France finished ninth in the women’s skeet event at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games ©Getty Images
Lucie Anastassiou of France finished ninth in the women’s skeet event at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games ©Getty Images

In the men’s skeet competition, Julio Elizardo Dujarric Lembcke of the Dominican Republic opened with a score of 24, before going on to achieve the maximum 25 followed by a 24. 

Argentina's Federico Gil and India's Parampal Singh Guron also ended the day with 73 total points followed by American Taylor Dustan fourth on 72. 

The action continues tomorrow at Las Palmas Shooting Range with the second part of the qualifying, followed by the semi-finals and the final to decide the long-waited winners.