Published on 28 Jul 2026

ISSF World Cup Hangzhou 2026: Australia signs off Hangzhou with European Record-equalling Trap Mixed Team triumph

issf-logo

Australia ended the ISSF World Cup Hangzhou 2026 on a high, as James Willett and Penny Smith combined to win the Trap Mixed Team title and equal the European Record with a superb 37-hit performance in the championship's final medal event.

Facing the home favourites from the People's Republic of China, the Australian duo produced a composed display from start to finish, matching the Chinese team through the opening stages before pulling away in the closing rounds to seal gold and equal the European Record.

The final began at a relentless pace, with both Australia and China dropping just a single target in the opening five pairs to sit level on nine hits. The contest remained finely balanced midway through, but Willett and Smith maintained their consistency as the pressure increased, gradually opening a narrow advantage before finishing with 37 hits.

The victory capped an outstanding week for the Australian pair. Smith, who claimed bronze in the Women's Trap just one day earlier, added a second medal of the World Cup, while Willett returned to the top step of the podium with another impressive international performance. Their combined score also equalled the European Record, underlining the quality of their shooting throughout the final.

China's Qi Ying and Sun Yunong delighted the home crowd with the silver medal after finishing on 35 hits. The pair remained within touching distance of the Australians for much of the contest before settling for second place after another strong performance.
The bronze medal went to Italy's Massimo Fabbrizi and Alessia Iezzi, who defeated Yang Kun-Pi and Liu Wan-Yu of Chinese Taipei in the bronze medal match. The experienced Italian duo finished with 23 hits, while Chinese Taipei concluded the contest on 17.

The Trap Mixed Team competition provided a fitting conclusion to an action-packed week in Hangzhou, where Olympic champions, world champions and emerging talents delivered high-quality performances across rifle, pistol and shotgun.

With the final targets broken, the curtain falls on another successful ISSF World Cup, leaving athletes to turn their attention to the next stage of the international season after six days of world-class competition in Hangzhou.