After a strong performance at a recent World Cup event, local champion shooter James WiIlett will compete this week as a part of the Olympic team selection. Photo AAP.
Local James Willett secured the bronze medal in the Men’s Trap event at the Rabat, Morocco ISSF Shotgun World Cup on Tuesday, February 13 supporting his campaign towards a third consecutive Olympic Games.
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Willett, who shot a score of 121 out of 125 targets, was the equal top qualifier with David Kostelecky (CZE) and Mohammed Al Rumaihi (QAT).
Of his qualification Willett said: “Qualification was over two days. Monday, day one I had a really good day shooting 74 out of 75 [targets], and then day two, 47 out of 50 to finish on 121 out of 125.
It was so close in the Men’s Trap event against the best in the world last week, with our James Willett having to settle for a third placing.
“It was a tough event but very fair so the scores weren’t super high, but high enough.” Assimilating the range in Rabat to back home, Willet said “The range felt very similar to the ranges we compete on back home…a bit of an Australian range which was nice to shoot over.”
Although already securing a place in the 6-man final, Willett entered a shoot off with Kostelecky and Al Rumaihi to determine his bib ranking.
“The shoot off for bib was a little bit unexpected,” Willett said. “I thought maybe a shoot off to make the final, so it was nice to be shooting off for bib.”
With Kostelecky winning the shoot off and securing bib rank 1 for the final, Willett was pleased to secure bib 2. “I was pleased with that, but it ended up costing me the silver medal on countback when tying with David [Kostelecky] at the bronze medal elimination,” 28-year-old Willett said.
Throughout a very close final, and a frequent change in lead, Willett reflected: “It was tough all the way and the scores were really close. I was happy with how I handled the final and just got a little bit quick towards the end and missed a couple [of targets], resulting in my elimination. But I am really happy with the end result and happy to be bringing home a bronze medal for Australia.”
Italy’s Mauro De Filippis won the gold medal, with Kostelecky winning the silver medal.
In 2021 James competed at the postponed 2020 Tokyo Olympics, shooting so well had he competed four years earlier in the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, with a final tally 120 from 125 targets, he would have placed equal second and won a silver medal.
But such was the standard of shooting at the 2021 Olympics, the then 25-year-old finished just two targets behind the sixth placed qualifier for the opportunity to shoot for a medal.
Willett’s number one supporter, wife Amy, is always following her husband’s progress from their home in Yarrawonga.
“I am so pleased with James’ result as it means a lot for his preparation this year. He has sacrificed a lot to get this point and is a good lead into 2024,” she said.
This World Cup ends a three-week international tour for Willett, where he also competed in the Cairo, Egypt World Cup, where he shot a qualification score of 117 out of 125, finishing in 17th place.
Former Corowa Gun Club member Willett is back in Australia competing in the next domestic nomination event in Sydney this week as part of the 2024 Paris Olympic team selection process.
