Nina Bjärehäll won in sudden death
Swedish Cup began with a big drama shoot-off in the first rifle final when Nina Bjärehäll from Halmstad took the first gold medal in Sävsjö Shooting Center. Nina competes in the Air rifle junior women class, which is largest in the competition with 125 competitors of at total of 632 shooters.
The final was dramatic. Third-place in final, Linnea Svensson from nearby Skillingaryd, took command in the start of the final whereupon Nina Bjärehäll and Saana Tattari from Finland performed a tight battle over the next two shooting rounds.
With only one shot left the sum up for both shooters was 194.5 points. The last trembling shot was marked 10.0 and 10.0 with the sum of 204.5 points. Talk about a well-directed final for the audience. Real nice.
A extra shoot-off shot was needed. Nina got 10.7 and Saana 9.7 a few seconds later.
- I was nervous, especially at the end. All thoughts were on focus, declared a jubilant Nina immediately after the final, and continues:
- Everyone looks so damn cool, but deep down I think everyone is equally nervous. This was a good start to the year 2015 and it feels really good before for upcoming days of competition.
Does it work to shoot being sixth months pregnant?
Although five countries were represented in the women's air rifle final, there were two Swedes who competed for gold and silver.
The grip on the final had Andrea Franzen-Wallberg from Kviberg before Emma Göransson, Skoga-Ekshaerad who took in 1.5p in the 19th shot. In the 20th shot it was in return, Emma got some nerve, whereupon Andrea secured the victory with 206.7 points against 204.9 points.
- The shooting works well, as long as the one in the stomach behaves, explains Andrea and reveals that she is six months pregnant.
- In the qualification shooting I was a bit worried the first half round, with
pretty much pulse. In the final it felt good the whole time and it was fun to shoot. It worked technically well and it felt like I was working good, Andrea analyzed.
Wallberg took silver in the first Swedish Cup Final
Speaking of another Wallberg. It was Daniel Wallberg from Loos who reached the top of the Swedes in the men's junior rifle final, his first Swedish Cup final.
The Norwegian Magnus Björnstad from Elverum, had the command in the final, but with an eight he invited Daniel in to the match. Only 0.2 points differed before the decisive shot. Once there, the Swede delivered a less good shot, why the gold went to Norway with 203.0 against 201.2 points.
- The finale was okay until the last two shots, the shooting was not on top but okay today. I had some bad focus issues. Good that there are two days left and fun to have been in the first final here, commented Daniel afterwards.
Double gold to Gothenburg and Kviberg
Since Andrea triumphed in the women event, her club companion Karl-Johan Jönsson was not to be worse on the men's side. Although Mikael Svensson from Aspö had the lead in the start of the final, it was Karl-Johan who led for most of the competition. He certainly was challenged both by final third Juho Kurki from Finland, and the runner up Steffen Olsen from Denmark. After the final finished and twentieth shots were summed, Karl-Johan scored 205.8 against 204.6 for the Dane Steffen.
- I am a bit unaccustomed to compete actually. I have had a pause from shooting. The technic is there, but I makes some silly mistakes, says Karl-Johan after the last final on the first competition day.
Picture: Andrea Franzén-Wallberg Gold medalist Air rifle women at firs day on Swedish Cup. PHOTO: MIKAEL SVENSSON
