Hui Zicheng (centre), winner of the men's 50m rifle three positions event, with silver medallist Matthew Emmons (left) and bronze medallist Han Jinseop (right) on the podium ©ISSF

China’s Hui Zicheng returned from a six-year International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) World Cup absence to win the men’s 50 metres rifle three positions event in Changwon, South Korea.

Despite winning two World Cup golds in 2009 and placing sixth at the ISSF World Cup Final the same year, Hui took an extensive break from the sport after his one and only international season to focus on his university studies.

But now, having graduated, he returned to the range and started training again last year, and is now back atop the podium.

“I found out that I was missing all those nice feelings of competitive sport, so I decided to come back,” said Hui.

“It feels awesome to win gold in my first international match in six years.”

The 25-year-old scored a total of 457.3 points to finish ahead of the United States’ Matthew Emmons and home favourite Han Jinseop in second and third respectively, and secure his country an Olympic quota place for Rio 2016. 

“I am proud about winning an Olympic quota place for my country,” said Hui.

“I hope I will be representing China at the next Games, that's my dream.

“All my family is into shooting sport: my father, my uncle, my little brother.

“It's our family passion, it must be in our blood.”

The United States' Matthew Emmons took the silver medal
The United States' Matthew Emmons took the silver medal ©Getty Images

Emmons, the London 2012 Olympic bronze medallist in the event, claimed his second World Cup medal of the week after winning the men’s 50 metres rifle prone event.

The American led the match through the first two kneeling-position series, before firing a disappointing 7.4 on his third series that pulled him down to third.

But some good prone-position series moved him up to second place with 309.2 points, and that’s ultimately where he finished, scoring a total of 456 points.

South Korea's Han took the bronze medal with 445.1 points, while the second Olympic quota place on offer went to fourth-placed Ole Kristian Bryhn of Norway.

The ISSF World Cup series now moves onto Larnaca, Cyprus, where a Shotgun World Cup stage is due to be held from April 24 to May 4.


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