Olympic shooter Roger Daniel captured gold at the 2013 World Masters Games currently taking place in Turin Italy. The Commonwealth and Pan American multiple medalist shot his way to the Over 30- Ten metre Air Pistol title at the National Shooting Polygon on Monday, August 5, the second day of the meet. The Army sergeant amassed a total of 575 after six rounds (99, 95, 95, 97, 95, 94) to deny the Italian shooters in victory in front of their home fans. Italian champion Massimo Ciccilio had to settle for second (570), ahead of compatriots Michele Potenza (567), Massimo Garnero (566) and Paolo Bianchi (557). Daniel’s gold medal performance was the first ever by a Trinidad and Tobago athlete at the global multi-sport meet for athletes over the age of 30 years. Speaking after his historic feat, the 43 year old charismatic shooter said he had to stay focus in what he considered a long competition. “There were many more shooters than I expected so I had to find ways of staying focused and recharged.” Daniel added that overcoming the heat was another challenge. “The temperatures were as high as 34-36 o C (degrees Celsius). I was finishing my bottles of water and was drenched with sweat at the firing line but I had to remember the other competitors were under the same pressures.”
The medal was the second of the meet for the Chaguanas resident as he had earlier collected a bronze in the men’s 50m Free Pistol on Sunday. The two-time Sportsman of the Year returned a score of 531 to finish behind Ciccioli (543) and Ganero (539) and prevented an Italian sweep of the top three spots as Potenza was in fourth (516). Daniel said his third place finish came despite shooting from one of the darkest spots on the range. “It was challenging because of the position I had to shoot from. My position could not be changed because of the vision of the target and my height but I gave it my best shot and came away with the bronze." Daniel added that the heat was again a hurdle as temperatures were in the range of 38 to 40oC and he “was always sweating.” The 2010 Central American and Caribbean (CAC) Games champion is in line for more gold as he is leading the men’s 25m Center Fire Pistol Event after the first day which took place on Tuesday with 579 points. The remaining competitors will be in action on Wednesday. Daniel will also be action on the second day of the 25m Rapid Fire Pistol Wednesday. Italian Valentino Battistelli leads after the first day on Tuesday (520). The former national hockey player will also compete in the 25m standard pistol in the meet which comes to an end on August 11.
Results
10m Air Pistol
1st-Roger Daniel (T&T) 575 pts
2nd-Massimo Ciccioli (ITA) 570
3rd-Michele Potenza (ITA) 567
4th-Massimo Garneo (ITA) 566
5th- Paolo Bianchi (ITA) 557
6th-Alejandro Beviacqua (ARG) 552
7th Andrea Brilli (ITA) 548
8th-Marco La Verghetta (ITA) 536
50m Free Pistol
1st-Massimo Ciccioli (ITA) 543 pts
2nd- Massimo Garneo (ITA) 539 pts
3rd-Roger Daniel (T&T) 531pts
4th -Michele Potenza (ITA) 516 pts