BOOKAAR shooter Penny Smith will be among elite company when she makes her world championships debut in Peru.
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Smith, 18, was named in the Australian squad for the ISSF World Shotgun Championships alongside Olympic medallists Michael Diamond, Adam Vella, Russell Mark and Suzy Balogh.
The 14-member team for the September 16-24 competition was announced yesterday.
Smith and New South Wales’ Teegan McCloy are Australia’s two hopes in the junior women’s trap event.
The world championships will be Smith’s fourth international tournament in six months in what has been a breakout year for the King’s College student.
“It is going to be big and daunting considering there are so many people there and it is one of the most prestigious events in the world for shooting,” Smith said.
“I will have a good time and soak up the experience and if I shoot over 65 I will be very happy.
“It all comes down to how much practice you do. Being my first world championships it will be daunting and I will have a fair few nerves playing on me but I treat every overseas trip the same and focus on one target at a time.”
Smith expects the lead-up to the Lima-based tournament to be an eye-opener.
She will compete in the third round of the Australia Cup this weekend and then switch her attention to the Oceania Grand Prix in Sydney.
They will be used as a springboard for the world titles.
“It’s going to be pretty hectic and pretty busy, but exciting,” Smith said. “We have a pretty busy next eight weeks. I am training at the moment with my coach in Werribee every Sunday.”
Smith shot an equal- career-best 68 out of 75 at the World Cup in Spain earlier this month.
It was the second time she’d reached the figure, having first notched it at the Qatar Open in February in her international debut.
Australia’s world championships team was selected with an eye towards the 2014 Commonwealth Games and the 2016 Rio Olympic Games.
Australian team — men’s trap: Michael Diamond (Gold Coast, Queensland), Adam Vella (Keilor, Victoria), Brett Dunstan (Upper Beaconsfield, Victoria); women’s trap: Laetisha Scanlan (Berwick, Victoria), Catherine Skinner (Mansfield, Victoria), Suzy Balogh (Sydney, New South Wales); men’s skeet: Paul Adams (Brisbane, Queensland), Keith Ferguson (Sale, Victoria); women’s skeet: Laura Coles (Busselton, Victoria); men’s double trap: Russell Mark (Hoppers Crossing, Victoria); junior men’s trap: James Grice (Cobbity, New South Wales), Jack Wallace (Healesville, Victoria); junior women’s trap: Teegan McCloy (Old Bar, New South Wales), Penny Smith (Bookaar, Victoria).