More than 300 athletes from 54 countries participated in the week-long season-opener, with United States leading the way by winning four of the five events.

That dominance continued on the final day of action as Beijing 2008 and London 2012 skeet champion Vincent Hancock equalled the 125-target world record established by Italy's Valerio Luchini last year en route to a dominant victory.

It was the same man who was vanquished in the final this time around as Luchini proved unable to cope with the fearsome consistency of the 25-year-old American, who continued his qualification form through the knock-out rounds and the final.

ISSF President Olegario Vazquez Raña hailed the success of the competition following the conclusion of proceedings in Acapulco ©ISSF



Another Italian, Riccardo Filippell, ousted 18-year-old home hope Luis Raul Gallardo to take bronze.

"I am excited, this is a great way to begin the season," said Hancock, who had already secured a quota spot last year, meaning that two Italian places were confirmed today.

"This year has Olympic points on the line for us, so I have to win as many World Cup medals as I can." 

In total, 10 Quota places were awarded over the week, with the US and Italy taking three apiece while Australia and China secured two each.

"It has been a wonderful competition," said Vazquez Raña, the Mexican International Olympic Committee member re-elected to his ISSF post last year, which he has held since 1980.

"We have to thank the Organising Committee of this event and its President Jorge Peña Soberanis for making it possible.

"The Acapulco's shooting range has been renewed for this event and everything runs perfectly, as the high scores recorded today proved."

The next shotgun leg of the ISSF World Cup Series is due to take pace later this month in Al Ain, United Arab Emirates, with action set to begin on March 19.

Contact the writer of this story at [email protected]


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