Skelhon happy with R3 silver in Cheongju

Matt Skelhon showed once again why he is a force to be reckoned with on the world stage as he shot his way onto the podium at the World Para Shooting Championships.

Skelhon claimed silver in the R3 10m air rifle prone mixed SH1 after recording 254.3 in the final, just 0.7 adrift of Slovakia’s Veronika Vadovicova who secured gold with 255.0 – a score which broke the reigning Paralympic champion’s own world record. The Brit’s performance also secured a quota place for Tokyo 2020.

Jinho Park of South Korea completed the podium places, his score of 232.9 good enough for bronze.

Earlier on Monday, Skelhon, Paralympic gold and bronze medallist at Beijing 2008 and London 2012 respectively, missed out on a podium place in the R6 50m rifle prone mixed event, finishing fifth.

And after not medalling earlier in the week, Skelton was delighted how he managed to bounce back and add to his roster of silverware.

“I took yesterday afternoon off, missed training, went back to the hotel, and chatted with some friends, and forgot really all about it and concentrated on [the R3],” said Skelhon, who also won silver at the 2014 World Championships.

“It would have been better to win than to come second but I am happy with my performance today. It was a massive final and I shot as well as I could.

“I have to congratulate Veronika on a great final and a new world record. I have been training really well leading up to this competition and I was very disappointing with my performance in the 50m event - my qualification went well but for some reason I lost some of stability in the final.

“The facilities out here have been fantastic. The competition and the organisation has also been great and it’s been a very good championships.

“Next for me is to go home, take a break, get married and come back fresh in August ready for the World Cup in France.”

Elsewhere, the R4 10m air rifle men’s team event saw the British outfit of Ryan Cockbill, Tim Jeffery and James Bevis claim silver with a final tally of 1883.3, just behind Korea on 1892.0.

Cockbill reached the final in the same event, finishing eighth overall.