American Vincent Hancock claimed men's skeet gold with a shoot-off victory over Austria's Sebastian Kuntschik ©ISSF

American two-times Olympic champion Vincent Hancock continued his dominance of the men’s skeet event as he clinched gold at the International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) World Cup in Gabala, Azerbaijan.

Hancock, winner at both Beijing 2008 and London 2012, secured the title by virtue of a shoot-off victory over world number 31 Sebastian Kuntschik of Austria.

Both shooters missed one target each in the final but the 26-year-old from Florida demonstrated his ability under pressure as he hit six in the shoot-off while his opponent could only manage five.

The result still gave Kuntschik his best-ever performance at an ISSF-sanctioned event and also saw him earn a quota place for Austria at Rio 2016.

Italian Gabriele Rossetti produced a flawless display to claim bronze as he hit a perfect score of 16 in his match-up with 2014 African Champion Azmy Mehelba of Egypt.

Hancock, meanwhile, will now target history in Rio next year as he bids to become the first shotgun competitor to collect three successive Olympic titles.

“The training for Rio 2016 has already started a couple of years ago,” Hancock said.

“But now I actually know that I am going to be there, so I can start planning what matches I am going to be going to, so that I can peak at the perfect spot: at the Games.

“It has been an amazing experience here.

“It was a long trip getting to Gabala, but having another gold medal is certainly what I came here for.”

Austria's Sebastian Kuntschik secured a Rio 2016 quota place for Austria despite defeat in the final
Austria's Sebastian Kuntschik secured a quota place at next year's Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro for Austria despite defeat in the final to American Vincent Hancock ©Getty Images

Hancock reached the finals with a near-perfect qualification score of 124, missing just one target, before he hit all 16 in the last four to reach the gold medal match in style.

Kuntschik managed to keep pace with his rival  throughout the final as they both managed 15 targets, but Hancock was able to hold his nerve in the shoot-off to seal his seventh ISSF World Cup crown since 2005.

“Nothing really means anything until we get to Rio,” the double Olympic champion added.

“That's my ultimate goal, that's what I want.

“I want to get another Olympic Gold medal.”

The event in Gabala is due to continue tomorrow with the men's and women's 10m air rifle finals.



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