Willett, who represented Australia in the Commonwealth Games in 2018 in the double trap finishing sixth in the final, is on a new path to qualify for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics this time in the trap discipline.
“The competition was very tough with a big field of competitors, as all the athletes around the world are trying to win Olympic quota places for their country throughout the year,” Willett said.
“Each world cup has two quotas on it but as I already have won one at the world champs it was passed down to third place.”
The 23-year-old shot a perfect 125/125 (world record) in qualifying for the final.
“This score got me the equal world record with only around another 12 whom have ever shot this score at an ISSF event,” Willett said.
“I then went on to shoot 47/50 in the finals and win by four targets in the final.
“This was my best trap performance so far and obviously I am very proud to have come away with the win and a great score.
“The following day was the Trap Mixed Team event where I competed with Laetisha Scanlan.
“We shot a combined score of 147/150 in qualifying which put us into a ‘shoot-off’ to make the final. We managed to make it in sixth place after the ‘shoot-off’.
“We then went on to win the final with 46/50 which was my first international win in the mixed teams event.”
Willett said he has been putting a lot of work into the new discipline after the Commonwealth Games which was his last competition in the double trap.
“Since then I have been fully focused on trap and this year I have had some great results after winning the national championship and now the first ISSF World Cup.
“My aim this year was to medal at a world cup so I have now done this I am super happy.
“My next goal is to qualify and better my last result of fourth place at the world championships in July this year. This event will be held at Lonato, Italy.”
Willett is currently in Al Ain, UAE where his now preparing for the next world cup which starts this Sunday, April 7 and will then return home on April 12.
While home he will continue his strict training regime on the custom built shooting range on the family farm.
“Our Olympic selection events will be held next year so it’s a big year ahead and then straight back into it after Christmas to try and qualify for Tokyo,” Willett said.
Willett also credited some of his local sponsors in the Central Murray Credit Union, Hargreaves Secured Investments and Yarrawonga-Cobram Toyota as businesses that have got behind him and helped him along the way.
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