(Xinhua)
Updated: 2007-08-14 19:14

BANGKOK -- Powerhouses Russia and China led the chorus by wrapping up half of the 40 gold medals on offer at the inaugural Universiade shooting competitions despite of sending their second teams.

Leonid Ekimov, the 19-year-old Russian pistol shooter, became the only brilliant star by winning five golds, including Olympic events of the men's 10m air pistol and 50m pistol, two silvers and one bronze from all four men's pistol disciplines in team and individual.  

The sports-majored student also produced the most valuable score at the Universiade shooting range by taking 571 points in the qualification round of the 50m pistol event, which would easily secure him a top three spot in the World Cup series and making him a hot medal contender for the Beijing Olympics.

However, eight of the Russia's gold medals came from team events which showcased its superiority in the sport, but a lack of top-class members of the Universiade team.

Ekimov was only the fourth choice in the men's pistol events in Russia's national squad behind Olympic Champion Mikhail Nestruev, medalists Vladimir Isakov and Vladimir Gontcharov.

Denis Sokolov, the World Cup Final winner in the men's 10m air rifle, did not show his best form, but it did not hinder the Russian team from winning 11 gold medals at the Universiade.

The Chinese team, made up of shooters not qualified for the domestic qualification competitions for the Olympics next year, seemed no hope of a harvest in Bangkok.

However, they triumphed in three Olympic events and took nine gold medals in total.

Markswomen Wang Jieyi and Chen Weiwei, won in their international debuts in the 25m pistol and skeet events respectively, which were both China's traditional predominance.

Zuzana Stefecekova from Slovakia came to the Universiade with the most beautiful resume and she proved her strength later. The 23-year-old veteran, the World Cup Final gold medalist in 2004 and the current world record holder, collected 72 hits in the qualification round of women's trap and 23 targets out of 25 in the rainy and windy final.

Surprises came from India's Sarao Harveen and Germany's Tino Mohaupt, both of whom had little international experiences but produced world-class marks.

Art-majored Harveen, 21, the national champion in 2006, collected the highest score of 388 points in the qualification round of the women's 10m air pistol while Mohaupt, obtained a qualification round score of 598 in the men's 10m air rifle event. Both of the scores would be competitive even at the Olympics.

The four-day shooting competitions concluded on Monday, featuring 20 events and offering 39 gold medals in total.  

Medals for the women's double trap team event were canceled as only two teams, namely Chinese Taipei and Thailand, competed.