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Aussie shooters fall short of skeet final

Rob ForsaithAAP
Paul Adams has missed out on a spot in the men's skeet final at the Tokyo Olympics.
Camera IconPaul Adams has missed out on a spot in the men's skeet final at the Tokyo Olympics. Credit: AAP

Australian skeet shooters Paul Adams and Laura Coles have failed to progress to the Tokyo Olympics finals.

Adams and Coles finished 21st and 25th respectively in their qualification event, which was staged across Sunday and Monday.

Adams logged a total score of 119/125, falling three targets short of joining six fourth-placed rivals in a shootout that determined who joined Eric Delaunay, Tammaro Cassandro and Eetu Kalioinen in the final.

Adams was one of five male competitors to start with two faultless rounds, hitting all 50 targets to be on track for the six-shooter final.

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But the theatre nurse from Brisbane, who last year didn't pick up his gun for almost nine months, slipped down the leaderboard and out of medal contention.

Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games champion Coles, taking part in her first Olympics, started with a round of 24 then lost pace with the leaders.

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"My nerves got the better of me," Coles said after loging a score of 112/125.

"It would have been nice to have more international competition in the lead up to this event. I haven't shot at a World Cup since 2019.

"It also wasn't easy with the pandemic, as I had to spend some time away from home.

"There is a lot that I can learn from this."

Shooting continues on Tuesday with pistol and rifle team events, introduced as part of the International Olympic Committee's push for gender equity.

Australia are yet to win a medal at the Asaka range but James Willett will be a leading contender in the men's trap competition that begins on Wednesday, when he shoots alongside compatriot Tom Grice.

Willett, who is coached by Atlanta Olympics gold medallist Russell Mark, has been training at an Olympic-standard trap shooting range on his family farm in the Riverina.

Penny Smith and Laetisha Scanlan, both selected on Australia's Olympic team ahead of Rio 2016 trap champion Catherine Skinner, also start their qualification event on Wednesday.

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