World Cup USA
USA comes away with only 1 medal, quota slot

By Paula J. Randall Pagán
U.S. Army Marksmanship Unit Public Affairs Office

FORT BENNING, Ga. - Russia was the overall winner in the International Shooting Sport Federation World Cup USA, which the U.S. Army Marksmanship Unit hosted through May 3 to 11.

The World Cup USA was sponsored by USA Shooting, the national governing body for Olympic shooting sports in the United States. Not only can shooters win medals and set world records at the World Cups, but they can also win quota slots for their countries to compete in the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, Greece.

Russia won eight medals, Ukraine received three, China, Mongolia, Bulgaria, Belarus and Hungary got two medals, and India, Czech Republic, USA, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, France, Italy, Switzerland and Austria got one medal each.

Former SAMU shooter Eric Uptagrafft, who is now a lieutenant junior grade in the Navy Reserve, won the only medal for the United States - a Gold Medal and an Olympic Quota Slot in the Men's 50-Meter Prone Rifle Match May 7.

Other countries that competed in the World Cup were Albania, Argentina, Aruba, Australia, Barbados, Bermuda, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Finland, Great Britain, Greece, Germany, Guatemala, Israel, Jamaica, Japan, Lithuania, Mexico, Moldova, Netherlands, Nicaragua, Norway, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Puerto Rico, Romania, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, Thailand, Trinidad, Uzbekistan and the Virgin Islands.

The following are the World Cup results:

* May 5: Women's Air Rifle - India, Gold Medal; and Russia, Silver and Bronze Medals.

* May 6: Men's Free Pistol - Czech Republic, Gold Medal; Ukraine, Silver Medal; and Belarus, Bronze Medal. Women's Sport Pistol - Bulgaria, Gold Medal; Azerbaijan, Silver Medal; and Mongolia, Bronze Medal.

* May 7: Men's Prone Rifle - USA, Gold Medal, Italy, Silver Medal; and Austria, Bronze Medal. Men's Air Pistol - Russia, Gold Medal; France, Silver Medal; and Ukraine, Bronze Medal.

* May 8: Women's Sport Rifle - Kazakhstan, Gold Medal; and Russia, Silver and Bronze Medals. Men's Air Rifle - China, Gold Medal; Hungary, Silver Medal; and Russia, Bronze Medal.

* May 9: Women's Air Pistol - Korea, Gold Medal; China, Silver Medal; and Mongolia, Bronze Medal.

* May 10: Men's Three-Position Rifle - Russia, Gold and Silver Medals; and Hungary, Bronze Medal. Men's Rapid Fire Pistol - Ukraine, Gold Medal; Bulgaria, Silver Medal; and Switzerland, Bronze Medal.