Malta’s William Chetcuti came a whisker away from winning a medal at the ISSF World Championships in Belgrade yesterday.

The Mellieħa shooter was in fine form as he compiled scores of 48, 50 and 48 to qualify for the final barrage with an overall score of 146 clays from 150.

In the final barrage, the Mellieħa prodigy scored a solid 46 to end up with 193 – a score that left him tied in third place along with Eller Walton, of the US, and Vitaly Fokeev, Russia.

A shoot-off was needed to award the bronze medal and Walton came out on top ahead of Fokeev and Chetcuti who had to settle for fifth place.

China’s Li Jun took gold after winning a shoot-off with Germany’s Andreas Loew.

In the juniors competition, Nathan Lee Xuereb enjoyed a perfect debut in the champion-ships when he rifled scores of 48, 46 and 49 for a total score of 143 that left him fourth overall.

US shooter William Crawford took gold with 147, three ahead of Artem Nekrasov, of Russia, and Asher Noria of India.

In Belgrade, Chetcuti and Xuereb were accompanied by coach Jimmy Bugeja.

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