European Games: Laura Coman wins gold medal in the 10 metres air rifle

Romanian athlete Laura Georgeta Coman has won the gold medal in the 10 m air rifle event on Monday, at the European Games in Minsk.

Coman, the European champion in the 10 metres air rifle and Romania’s flag-bearer at the opening ceremony Friday evening, won the first place in the final with 251.3 points, a new record of the competition, followed by the Swiss Nina Christen – 250 points, and by Nikola Mazurova (Czech Republic) – 228.7 points.

In the men’s competition, Alin Moldoveanu, the 2012 Olympic champion, failed to qualify in the finals after finishing 25th (623.2 points), by over 4 points behind the last qualified.

Romania won so far three medals in Minsk, all bronze and all at sambo, through Daniela Poroineanu (56 kg), Anda Mihaela Vâlvoi (64 kg) and Alina-Petronela Păunescu (+80 kg).

Romania participates with 123 athletes at the European Games.

Laura Coman is one of the three Romanian athletes who have already qualified to the Olympic Games 2020, along with swimmer Robert Glinta and athlete Florentina Iusco.

The second edition of the European Games are taking place in Minsk, Belarus, during June 21-30, and feature 15 sports, with the participation of 4,022 athletes from 50 countries. For three sports the competition will equal the European Championships and the results in eight sports will count on the road to the Olympic Games 2020 in Tokyo.