Ukrainian Kostevych, Chinese Zhu named 2011 Shooters of the Year

KYIV, February 17 /UKRINFORM/. The 2004 Olympic Champions - China's Rifle shooter Zhu Qinan and Ukraine's Pistol shooter Olena Kostevych - have been named “2011 Shooters of the Year”, reads a statement posted on the official website of the International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF). The poll was conducted by a panel of international sport press representatives and by the members of the ISSF Athletes and the Coaches Committees.

“The prestigious title was assigned for their outstanding results throughout the past shooting season, and for embodying the values of the shooting sport with passion and engagement,” reads the statement.

Ukraine's Olena Kostevych, 26, the 10m Air Pistol Women Olympic Champion of Athens 2004, won an outstanding number of votes, becoming “Shooter of the Year” for the second time in her career. The Ukrainian athlete had indeed finished in the spotlights also in 2002, after winning the ISSF World Championship in Lahti (FIN), at the age of 16.

During the 2011 season, the young Pistol ace secured two ISSF World Cup victories in Fort Benning (USA) and Sydney (AUS), finishing on the highest step of the podium of both the 10m Air Pistol Women and of the 25m Pistol Women events.

Closing the season at the 2011 ISSF World Cup Final in Rifle and Pistols events in Wroclaw, Kostevych secured the 10m Air Pistol Women world cup title, climbing up the world ranking to the first place, and becoming - like in 2004 - the favourite to earn a medal in London.

АМ