Al-Athba was in outstanding form throughout the competition, hitting 35 of his 36 targets to claim the gold medal. The Qatari shooter displayed remarkable consistency, carrying a perfect score deep into the final before missing only his very last target, by which time the title had already been secured.
The fight for gold remained close throughout, with Jose Maria Mielgo Moneo matching Al-Athba shot for shot for much of the contest. The Spaniard finished with 34 hits, missing just two targets to take the silver medal after an excellent performance.
China's Lyu Jianlin completed the podium in front of the home crowd, finishing with 29 hits. Lyu stayed in medal contention throughout the final before securing bronze, earning another podium finish for the host nation at the World Cup.
Nicolas Pacheco Espinosa of Peru narrowly missed out on the medals, placing fourth with 25 hits. Japan's Shotaro Toguchi and India's Gurjoat Khangura were both eliminated with 19 hits, with Toguchi taking fifth place after the tie-break sequence.
Italy's Niccolo Sodi finished seventh, while France's Nicolas Le Jeune placed eighth, with both athletes ending the competition on eight hits.
Italy's Niccolo Sodi finished seventh, while France's Nicolas Le Jeune placed eighth, with both athletes ending the competition on eight hits.
The victory marks another significant achievement for Al-Athba, whose composed performance under pressure earned him the top step of the podium in a final featuring athletes from seven different nations.
The ISSF World Cup Hangzhou 2026 continues on Friday with more Rifle, Pistol and Shotgun medals to be decided as the competition enters its closing stages.
The ISSF World Cup Hangzhou 2026 continues on Friday with more Rifle, Pistol and Shotgun medals to be decided as the competition enters its closing stages.