Willett secured a quota place for the Australian team for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games with a fourth place finish in the men’s trap.

The last Australian finalist in the men’s trap was Michael Diamond in 2007.

With his pet event, the double trap, not included in the upcoming Olympic program, Willett shifted his focus to trap following this year’s Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast.

Willett shot 122 out of 125 to reach the six-man World Championship final, but was the third to be eliminated. 

He admitted it was bittersweet to miss out on a medal, but said it relieves a bit of pressure by opening up a spot for an Australian shooter in the Olympic event.

“I made it in 2015 in double trap and finished fourth as well, 2016 I was fifth in the Olympics and 2017 I didn’t quite shoot enough to make it, so it was good to be able to make the final in a new event,” Willett said.

“We had about 130 shooters from around the world in the men’s trap event, so it was a pretty strong field.

“The maximum quota is two for the men’s trap event, so we’ve got to go through the next 12 months, which will be the quota season and selections for the team will be after depending on how many quotas we have for Australia.

“It’s good to get that one out of the way because it takes a bit of pressure off for the other events and I can just focus on trying to medal at future events.”

After finishing sixth in the double trap final at the Commonwealth Games, Willett spent two months training in Europe, which set him up for a strong World Championship campaign.

“This was my third international event in trap and the best performance I’ve had at an international meeting since I’ve changed,” Willett said.

“After the individual event, we had the team event, which they’ve brought in to replace double trap.

“Laetisha Scanlan and I, who won the Commonwealth Games, came seventh in the team event and just missed the final after a shoot-off.

“They’ll have positions open for the teams event in Tokyo where a male and female will shoot together.

“Hopefully I can qualify for both events.”

Willett changed to a different model of shotgun to shoot in trap events, but admitted there hasn’t been many major adjustments.

Next on his radar are domestic events in Perth and Sydney in October and November, before preparations begin for the Australian national championships in January.