A Goulburn Valley talent will fly the flag for Australia over the coming days at a major international event.
Mooroopna’s Xavier Russell will return to the world stage this weekend for the FITASC Sporting World Championships.
The 44th championships will take place at Orvieto in Italy.
Russell, no stranger to the bright lights on the biggest of stages, is representing Sporting Clays Australia in the junior (under-21) teams category.
Lining up alongside the competitive and skilled youngster are his teammates Charlie North and Nicholas Brighenti.
Russell will be out to match his efforts at the 2019 world championships, where he placed third with the Australian junior team and 11th in the individual.
That was one of two world title bronze medals in 2019.
He also clinched a third-place finish in the junior category at the World English Sporting Championships.
This year has been a somewhat return to normality for Russell, after COVID-19 lockdowns forced the promising shooter to miss out on representing his country.
Russell will be aiming to replicate his success from earlier this year.
At the Oceania Championship, which was held at Shepparton, Russell was able to salute in the junior grade thanks to a class performance.
Russell claimed a podium finish at the 20th Australian FITASC Grand Prix in March.
The talented youngster finished second at the event, which was held at Geelong Sporting Clays.