Nathan Hales, the reigning Olympic trap shooting champion, is set to compete in the ISSF World Cup Final in New Delhi, India. The event marks the start of a new Olympic cycle and will be Hales’ first competition since his historic gold medal performance in Paris.
Hales, who hails from a family of shooters, began clay shooting at the age of five. He has since established himself as one of the world’s top trap shooters, winning silver at the 2022 World Championships and breaking the world record at the 2023 Lonato World Cup.
Despite his recent success, Hales acknowledges the challenges he will face in Delhi. The competition will feature world-class competitors and nippy conditions. However, Hales is confident in his abilities and aims to end the year on a high note.
“This will be my first visit to Delhi and I am super excited,” said Hales. “This year has been superb and I would like to end it well.”
Hales’ preparation for the World Cup Final has been unconventional. After a short break following the Olympics, he has only recently returned to the range. He admits that peaking twice in a space of three months can be draining, but he is determined to perform at his best.
“Peaking will be a challenge, especially between two high-profile events bunched together,” said Hales. “It’s not an ideal situation but it is what it is.”
The World Cup Final will also provide Hales with an opportunity to try out a new weapon. He will trade his Beretta DT11 for a more advanced Beretta SL2.
“I have had just four sessions in the range since Paris, which is not great but I needed some time off shooting,” said Hales. “I like to prepare well for my events, I like my practice to be perfect. I am not in perfect shape game-wise for the World Cup Final. I guess in a mentally draining sport such as ours, it is important to strike a balance.”
Hales’ success in Paris was attributed to his unflinching temperament and trust in his “uncomplicated processes.” He believes that his experience in beating Chinese shooter Qi Ying last year in Lonato gave him an edge in the Olympic final.
“The Chinese are truly world class, and they have this huge supply of shooters who just keep winning,” said Hales. “What perhaps worked for me was that I had beaten Qi last year in Lonato. Also, I was very, very focussed. I had done everything I could in terms of preparation, so much so that I didn’t shoot for 10 days leading up to Paris. It’s the kind of space that an athlete finds very rarely in his career. You can still win events, but very rarely do you enter that zone.”
Hales’ wife, Charlotte Kerwood, a former Olympic shooter, has played a significant role in his success. Her insights and experience as an elite athlete have been invaluable to Hales.
“Her inputs were of great help,” said Hales. “She has vast experience as an elite athlete, which means she can tell me what I can expect to feel in a position that I haven’t been in before.”
As Hales embarks on the new Olympic cycle, he is eager to start his build-up to the 2028 Los Angeles Games on a positive note. The World Cup Final in Delhi will be a crucial test for the reigning champion and will provide him with valuable insights as he prepares for the road ahead.
