ISSF’s 2016, 2017 And 2018 Competitions Locations Unveiled

The ISSF Executive Committee and the ISSF Administrative Council held their annual meetings in Lonato, Italy, on September 8th and 9th, when they voted on the locations of the 2016, 2017 and 2018 ISSF competitions.

The locations of the 2016, 2017 and 2018 ISSF competitions have been unveiled today.

Spain’s Galvez wins the first Gold medal of the 2015 ISSF Shotgun World Championship in Lonato

There will be a change in the 2016 ISSF World Cup Series calendar announced last year, as the ISSF Rifle and Pistol World Cup planned to be held in Granada (ESP) has been moved to Baku (AZE), where a combined Rifle, Pistol and Shotgun World Cup Stage will take place. Both the 2016 ISSF World Cup Finals have been assigned to Italy, as they will be held in Bologna and Rome, respectively for Rifle/Pistol and Shotgun events. Following the success of the 2014 and 2015 editions, 2016 Junior Cups will be held in Suhl (GER) and Gabala (AZE), both including Rifle/Pistol and Shotgun events.

In 2017, the ISSF World Cup Series program will be limited to five total stages, which will be held in New Delhi (IND), as a combined Rifle, Pistol and Shotgun World Cup, in Munich (GER) and Gabala (AZE) for Rifle and Pistol events, and in Nicosia (CYP) and Acapulco (MEX) for Shotgun events. The 2017 season will also witness the launch of the ISSF Junior World Championship, with its first edition to be held in Suhl (GER) and including Rifle/Pistol events only. Shotgun junior shooters will have two world-class events to compete among themselves in dedicated age categories: the ISSF Shotgun World Championship in Moscow (RUS), where separate junior finals will be held, and an ISSF Shotgun Junior Cup in Porpetto (ITA).

In 2018, a combined ISSF World Cup stage in Changwon (KOR) will serve as a test event of the 52nd ISSF World Championship in all events to be held there from August 31st through September 14th. Another combined World Cup stage will be organized in Guadalajara (MEX), while Shotgun stages will be held in Mosta (MLT) and Tucson (USA). Rifle/Pistol World Cups, then, are scheduled to take place in Munich (GER) and Fort Benning (USA). Two ISSF Junior Cup stages will also be included in the 2018 calendar, in Suhl (GER) and Sydney (AUS), both conducted in Rifle, Pistol and Shotgun events.

2016:

Bangkok (THA) – ISSF World Cup Rifle/Pistol
Munich (GER) – ISSF World Cup Rifle/Pistol
Nicosia (CYP) – ISSF World Cup Shotgun
San Marino (SMR) – ISSF World Cup Shotgun
Baku (AZE) – ISSF World Cup Rifle/Pistol/Shotgun
Rio de Janeiro (BRA) – ISSF World Cup Rifle/Pistol/Shotgun
Bologna (ITA) – ISSF World Cup Final Rifle/Pistol
Rome (ITA) – ISSF World Cup Final Shotgun
Gabala (AZE) – ISSF Junior Cup Rifle/Pistol/Shotgun
Suhl (GER) – ISSF Junior Cup Rifle/Pistol/Shotgun
Suhl (GER) – ISSF World Championship Running Target
Rio de Janeiro (BRA) – Olympic Games

2017:

Gabala (AZE) – ISSF World Cup Rifle/Pistol
Munich (GER) – ISSF World Cup Rifle/Pistol
Acapulco (MEX) – ISSF World Cup Shotgun
Nicosia (CYP) – ISSF World Cup Shotgun
New Delhi (IND) – ISSF World Cup Rifle/Pistol/Shotgun
Porpetto (ITA) – ISSF Junior Cup Shotgun
Suhl (GER) – ISSF Junior World Championship Rifle/Pistol

2018:

Fort Benning (USA) – ISSF World Cup Rifle/Pistol
Munich (GER) – ISSF World Cup Rifle/Pistol
Mosta (MLT) – ISSF World Cup Shotgun
Tucson (USA) – ISSF World Cup Shotgun
Changwon (KOR) – ISSF World Cup Rifle/Pistol/Shotgun
Guadalajara (MEX) – ISSF World Cup Rifle/Pistol/Shotgun
Suhl (GER) – ISSF Junior Cup Rifle/Pistol/Shotgun
Sydney (AUS) – ISSF Junior Cup Rifle/Pistol/Shotgun
Changwon (KOR) – 52nd ISSF World Championship
Buenos Aires (ARG) – Youth Olympic Games

Zhang and Quiquampoix atop of the 25m Pistol podiums at ISSF World Cup in Munich

World Champion Zhang Jingjing of China and Junior Wolrd Champion Jean Quiquampoix of France won the 25m Pistol Women and Rapid Fire Pistol Men finals at the ISSF World Cup Final in Munich, today.

The 2015 ISSF Rifle and Pistol Wolrd Cup Final, held in Munich (GER) from the 2nd through the 7th of September, continued today with the 25m Pistol Women and Rapid Fire Pistol Men finals.

The reigning world champion Zhang Jingjing of China (26) turned out to be unbeatable, at the 25m Pistol Women medal match. Zhang nailed the world cup title as she beat Mongolia’s Gundegmaa Otryad 7 to 3 points in the gold medal match, after they had finished the semi-final tied atop of the table with 17 hits. Otryad (37), ranked second in the world, secured silver as she did at last year’s ISSF World Cup Final in Gabala (AZE).

The Chinese athlete has now Rio 2016 in her sights, after winning all major shooting competitions in the last two years, from her first ISSF World Cup Final title in 2013, to the Asian Games and ISSF World Championship in 2014.

Cao Lija (18) joined her teammate Zhang on today’s podium, as she beat the third Chinese finalist Lin Yuemei (21) in the Bronze medal match with a sharp score of 8 to 0 points. Both Cao and Lin had made it into the medal match passing through a four-way shoot-off as they tied Bulgaria’s Antoaneta Boneva (fifth) and Germany’s Monika Karsch (sixth) with 15 hits at the end of the semi-final.

At the following 25m Rapid Fire Pistol Men final, it was France’s 19-year old shooter Jean Quiquampoix who claimed the world cup title. The young athlete scored 32 hits, leaving Russia’s two-time Olympian and world record holder Leonid Ekimov (27) in second place with 31 hits.

The French athlete pocketed his first senior title after winning the 2014 Junior Wolrd Champion and the 2012 and 2015 Junior European Champion titles, and also set a new Junior final world record (junior records are recorded also in senior finals), shuttering the 31 hits record he had established at this year’s European Championship in Maribor (SLO).

Zhang Jingjing of China, ISSF World Cup Final in Munich, shooting

The reigning world champion Kim Jun Hong of the Republic of Korea (24) took the Bronze with 27 hits, finishing ahead of Russia’s Alexei Klimov (40), fourth with 22 hits.

“I am extremely happy because it’s a very nice way to close my last junior season,” Quiquampoix said. “At the beginning of today’s match, it seemed to be easy. But as we went on shooting I could feel the pressure building up.”

“What’s my next goal? I want to win the Olympic Games.” Concluded Quiquampoix, who secured an Olympic quota at this year’s ISSF World Cup stage in Changwon (KOR).

The ISSF Rifle and Pistol World Cup Final sees the best 85 shooters of the world selected throughout this year’s ISSF World Cup Stages in Changwon (KOR), Fort Benning (USA), Munich (GER) and Gabala (AZE) competing against the reigning world champions and the title defenders for the ISSF World Cup titles.

The event will continue tomorrow with four medal events, the women’s and men’s 10m Air Pistol and Air Rifle finals, starting from 10:30 (GMT+2). All final matches will be broadcasted live on http://www.issf-sports.org

ISSF Rifle And Pistol World Cup Final Kicks-Off In Munich. Zhang And Mcphail Claim Titles

The men’s 50m Pistol and 50m Rifle Prone event opened the 2015 ISSF World Cup Final in Munich, Germany, where the best shooters of the world are competing from the 2nd through the 7th of September to secure this year’s ISSF World Cup Titles.

The 2015 ISSF Rifle and Pistol World Cup Final kicked-off in Munich, Germany. The best 85 rifle and pistol shooters of the world, selected throughout this year’s four ISSF World Cup Stages in Changwon (KOR), Fort Benning (USA), Munich (GER) and Gabala (AZE), arrived here to challenge the title defenders and the 2014 World Champions, aiming at the 2015 World Cup title.

Russian Trap champion Alipov claims the last gold of the ISSF World Cup in Gabala photo credit: ISSF

The event takes place at the 1972 Olympic shooting range of Munich from the 2nd through the 7th of September, in combination with the German Shooting Championship, one of the largest shooting competitions of the world which sees over 8 thousands athletes from all over the country competing in Olympic and non Olympic shooting events in ten days.

Zhang Bowen of the People’s Republic of China (19) won the first Gold medal of the Final, finishing atop of the men’s 50m Pistol event, today. Zhang, the youngest finalist, shot a consistent match, leaving behind him Olympic and world champions, to win his first world cup final in career.

With 192.6 points, the Chinese athlete beat Vietnam’s Xuan Vinh Hoang (40), who finished in second place with 189.3 points after closing his match with three frustrating shots in the seventh ring (7.8, 7.5, 7.9). Nevertheless, Hoang won the applauses of the spectators. Travelling from Vietnam to Germany, his baggage was delayed and the Vietnamese shooter did not receive his pistol in time for the competition. As extrema ratio solution, the 40-year old athlete shot the match with a new, out-of-the-box pistol, without custom grip and adjustments. A remarkable achievement in today’s shooting sport world, where every single piece of equipment is usually fine-tuned and customized to the last screw.

Hoang also managed to keep behind himself the title defender, the winner of the 2014 ISSF World Cup Final Wang Zhiwei (27) of the People’s Republic of China, who placed in third with 173.6 points after a close duel against his teammate Mai Jiajie (28).

World’s #1 Michael Mcphail of USA (33) claimed Gold at the following 50m Rifle Prone Men final, securing the world cup title with 208.5 points and 1 point of advantage on Russia’s Kirill Grigoryan (23), second with 207.5 points.

The US athlete closed the ISSF season in the best possible way after winning two world cup stages in Munich and Fort Benning, and collected his very first world cup title sealing his leadership atop of the world ranking.

ISSF Rifle and Pistol World Cup Final kicks-off in Munich. Zhang (CHN) and Mcphail (USA) claim the first two titles

“I am very happy with how the season turned out,” Mcphail said. “In the past years I have shot both the 50m Rifle 3 Positions and the 50m Prone Men events, and it takes so much time to train in a proper way. This season I just shot Prone, and it’s much easier.”

“I am going to take a month off now. We have a son who’s due in the end of October, my second one, I am very excited!” Mcphail added, speaking after the award ceremony.

Following Mcphail and Grigoryan, Croatia’s Bojan Durkovic (25) pocketed today’s Bronze medal with 186.5 points, leaving Australia’s 2008 Olympic bronze medallist Warren Potent (53) in fourth place with 165.7 points.

The 2015 ISSF Rifle and Pistol World Cup Final in Munich will continue tomorrow with the women’s 25m Pistol and the men’s 25m Rapid Fire Pistol finals, due at 16.45 and 18.00 (GMT+2).

All finals will be broadcasted live on http://www.issf-sports.org

Russian Trap Champion Alipov Claims The Last Gold Of The ISSF World Cup In Gabala

The ISSF Rifle, Pistol and Shotgun World Cup in Gabala was closed by today’s Trap Men final. 34 Rio 2016 Olympic quotas were distributed to 25 countries in 15 shooting events. Three world records were equalled.

Today’s Trap Men final concluded the 2015 ISSF Rifle, Pistol and Shotgun World Cup held in Gabala, Azerbaijan, from the 7th through the 15th of August.

The 2004 Olympic Champion Alexey Alipov of Russia claimed the last gold medal of the competition. The 40-year old shooter beat the reigning Olympic Champion Giovanni Cernogoraz of Croatia (32) in the gold medal match by 15 to 14 hits. Alipov had qualified for the final phase of the event with an almost perfect score of 124 hits out of 125 targets, and then nailed two perfect rounds in the semi-final (15 hits) and in the medal match (again 15), leaving no chances to his opponents. It’s not the first medal won by the Russian shooter in Azerbaijan. Alipov had indeed finished atop of the European Games’ podium in Baku, earlier this year.

Cernogoraz claimed today’s silver medal (qualifications: 123+13, semi-final: 14+4; final: 14), as well as an Olympic quota place for Croatia, which will give him the chance to defend his title in Rio, next year. Bronze went to the 32-year old Italian shooter Erminio Frasca, third with 13 hits in the bronze medal match (qualifications: 124 targets; semi-final: 14+3 targets), enough to bring him back on an ISSF podium after a three-year long absence from the scene. Frasca beat Turkey’s first-time finalist Erdinc Kebapci of Turkey (22), who placed in fourth with 12 hits (qualifications: 124 targets, semi-final: 14+2 targets), securing the second Rio 2016 Olympic berth to be awarded today.

“It feels great to be back atop of the podium,” Alipov said. “The ISSF rules changed after the last Games and it took me a while to get used to it. But finally I made it, I am back.”

Over 1100 athletes coming from 90 countries competed in the last world cup stage of the season, trying to secure Olympic quotas and world cup finals qualification points.

The People’s Republic of China finished atop of the overall medal standings of the competition, with 6 golds, 4 silvers and 2 bronze, for an unmatchable total of 12 medals. The United States of America finished in second place with 5 medals: 2 golds, 2 silvers, 1 bronze. The Russian Federation followed in third, with the same number of podiums: 2 gold, 1 silver, 2 bronzes.

Three world records were equalled during the stage: the Trap Men’s (75 targets, by Jean Pierre Brol Cardenas of Guatemala), the 50m Rifle 3 Positions Women’s (592 points, by Sylwia Bogacka of Poland) and the Skeet Women’s (75 targets, by Aleksandra Jarmolinska also from Poland).

Russian Trap champion Alipov claims the last gold of the ISSF World Cup in Gabala photo credit: ISSF

34 Olympic Quotas were awarded to 25 different countries, in Rifle, Pistol and Shotgun events, here in Gabala. 267 Rio 2016 shooting quotas have been distributed by the ISSF so far, since August 2014. The remaining 90 quotas will be awarded at the ISSF Shotgun World Championship to be held in Lonato (ITA) from the 9th through the 18th of September, and at selected continental championships: 2015 African Championship in Cairo (EGY), 2015 Asian Championship in Kuwait City (KUW), 2015 Oceania Championship in Sydney (AUS) and 2016 European Championship in Gyor (HUN). Nine additional Olympic quotas are granted to the host country Brazil, and 24 quotas will be assigned by the Tripartite Commission, for an overall total of 390 Olympic spots.

Gabala closes the world cup’s regular season. The ISSF World Cup Finals will now be held in Munich, Germany (Rifle and Pistol events) from the 1st through the 7th of September, and in Nicosia, Cyprus (Shotgun events) from the 15th through the 21st of October.

At the Finals, the best athletes of the season will meet the title defenders, and the champions of the upcoming ISSF Shotgun World Championship in Lonato. Find the list of athletes who are already qualified here.

All the final matches of the upcoming competitions will be broadcasted live, through the ISSF website http://www.issf-sports.org

China Rockets Atop Of The Medal Standings Of The ISSF World Cup In Gabala

China rockets atop of the medal standings of the ISSF World Cup in Gabala (AZE) after 11 out 15 events

Chinese shooters won two more medals at the ISSF Wolrd Cup in Gabala, Azerbaijan, lifting their team atop of the intermediate medal standings. Kim Chongyong of the Republic of Korea claimed the men’s 10m Air Pistol gold, his second medal in three days, and an Olympic quota for his country.

The sixth competition day of the 2015 ISSF Rifle, Pistol, Shotgun World Cup in Gabala saw the Chinese team rocketing atop of the intermediate medal standings thanks to the gold and silver medals won by Chen and Yi at the women’s 50m Rifle 3 Positions final, and the success of the up-and-coming Korean athlete Kim Chongyong, the 18-year old winner of the men’s 10m Air Pistol medal match.

China earns two more golds and USA’s 2008 Olympic Champ Eller comes back atop of the podium at the ISSF World Cup in Gabala

Chen Dongqi (26), a two-time world cup bronze medallist, secured the women’s 50m Rifle 3 Positions gold medal at the end of a great final. The Chinese athlete finished the kneeling series in the lead with 152.9 points, and continued shooting solidly through the prone series, keeping the lead with 308.4 points. Holding on the first place through the standing series, she won the match with 456.2 points, and 0.8 points of advantage on her teammate Yi Siling (26). Yi, the 2012 air rifle Olympic champion, took silver with 455.4 points, pocketing her second world cup medal of the season in this event, after the bronze she had collected in Munich, earlier this year.

24-year old Anna Zhukova of the Russian Federation followed the two Chinese athletes, claiming bronze with 444.8 points. The two Rio 2016 Olympic quotas up for grabs at today’s final went to Poland’s Sylwia Bogacka (33), sixth with 411.6 points, and to Switzerland’s Jasmin Mischler (23), seventh with 400.0 points.

“I was feeling nervous during the competition, but I tried to calm down by telling myself that I could make it. And luckily it went that way.” Chen said, wearing the gold medal. “I am very happy now, even if I was a bit stressed during the match, I felt really great in the days leading to this world cup stage. Today’s result proves that we have been working in the right direction to prepare the competition.” Chen added.

Claiming his second medal in just three days, the Republic of Korea’s Kim Cheongyong (18) won gold at the following men’s 10m Air Pistol final . The medal also gained him an Olympic quota place for his country. Last Tuesday, Kim had also won the 50m Pistol bronze.

The young Korea shooter closed on 199.0 points, overcoming Kazakhstan’s Vladimir Issachenko, the silver medalist, just before the final shot. In the second part of the final, Issachenko (32) had mostly been in the lead. On the second-last shot, though, he hit a 7.8. that let Kim take over Issachenko, and the first spot.

China rockets atop of the medal standings of the ISSF World Cup in Gabala

Issachenko eventually came in 2nd, just 1.6 points behind Kim, with 197.4 points. Slovakia’s Juraj Tuzinsky, who had been leading the final in its early stages, finally took the bronze (178.9 points), his first world cup medal.

Next to Kim’s Korea, the other quota-winning country was Kazakhstan as Issachenko and Rashid Yunusmetov (5th with 138.6 points) secured two tickets to Rio2016 for their country.

“I feel very good,” siad gold medalist Kim. “I was very focused on the competition and I am happy that I secured a Rio 2016 quota to my country. Now I want to go home, and relax.”

Now that 11 out of 15 events has been conducted here in Gabala, the People’s Republic of China is currently atop of the intermediate medal standings with 5 golds, 3 silvers and 1 bronze, followed by USA with 2 golds and 2 silvers, and by the Republic of Korea, with 1 gold, 2 silvers and 1 bronze.

The event is due to continue tomorrow with three more medal matches in the schedule. The competition day will kick-off with the men’s 50m Rifle 3 Positions final at 13.15, and will continue with the women’s 10m Air Pistol and the women’s Trap finals at 15.00 and 18.15 (GMT+5), respectively. Finals will be broadcasted live on http://www.issf-sports.org

ISSF World Cup in Gabala (AZE): Day-5 Wrap Up

The Russian Federation and the People’s Republic of China celebrated two gold medals, today, at the ISSF World Cup in Gabala (AZE), where more than 1100 athletes from 90 countries are competing in Rifle, Pistol and Shotgun events from the 7th through the 15th of August, chasing world cup final points and 34 Rio 2016 Olympic quota places.

Day-5 of the ISSF World Cup in Gabala started off with the victory of Russia’s first-time finalist Kirilll Grigoryan (23), who claimed the men’s 50m Rifle Prone gold medal. In spite of being the youngest and the lowest ranked finalists (62nd in the world), Grigoryan shot a great match, moving atop of the scoreboard since the first series.

The Russian athlete duelled neck and neck against the 2004 Olympic Champion Matthew Emmons of USA (34) – currently ranked fourth in the world in this event – right to the last shot.

Closing his match with a strong 10.5, Grigoryan moved atop of the podium with a final score of 209.3 points, leaving Emmons in second with 208.4 points. Following them, the Czech Republic’s two-time Olympian Tomas Jerabek (42) secured Bronze with 186.6 points, and claimed the first of the two Rio 2016 Olympic quota places up for grabs. The 2000 Olympic Silver medallist Torben Grimmel of Denmark (39) grabbed the second Olympic quota, as he finished in fourth place with 165.8 points leaving Norway’s Ole Kristian Bryhn (26) behind him, in fifth place, with 144.9 points.

“I feel really great because this is my first final and my first medal in a world cup stage, it couldn’t end up in a better way.” Grigoryan said after the match. “I was not stressed too much by the fact that I was competing shoulder and shoulder with an Olympic Champion. We’re all humans, we can all win or lose a match,” he added. “My parents were both professional shooters of the Soviet Union team.” Grigoryan said, explaining how he got into the sport. “Shooting sport is a family thing. My dream is off course to participate in the Olympic Games. I shoot all rifle events, but the 50m Prone is definitely my favourite.”

In the men’s 25m Rapid Fire Pistol, Hu Haozhe and Lao Jiajie ruled the game. They won, respectively, gold and silver medals; both also gained Olympic quota places for Rio 2016. Hu (27) and Lao (25) were tied in first until the final shot. Then, a perfect 5-hit round gave Hu the first World Cup gold in his career woth a final score of 32 hits. Lao, the silver medalist, scored 30 hits and stepped for the first time onto a World Cup podium. France’s Boris Artaud (25) won the bronze, his career’s first World Cup medal, with a score of 25 hits.

“I thank the ISSF, and the Azerbaijani Organizing Committee,” siad Hu, “for preparing such a good competition for the athletes.” In his last three rounds, Hu didn’t miss a single shot, as he scored 15 hits out of 15 targets. He did it, he said, by playing the way he knows. “I was just doing my thing,” he explained. “I think less, and do more.”

Tomorrow, August 13th, the women’s 50m Rifle 3 Positions and the men’s 10m Air Pistol finals are scheduled at 11:00 and at 15:30, respectively. The medal matches will be broadcasted live on http://www.issf-sports.org

China Earns Two More Golds And USA’s 2008 Olympic Champ Eller Comes Back Atop Of The Podium At The ISSF World Cup In Gabala

Three events were contested at the ISSF World Cup in Azerbaijan, today. Mai and Cao of the People’s Republic of China won the 50m Pistol Men and the 25m Pistol Women events. USA’s Walton Eller came back atop of an ISSF podium two years after his last victory, at the 2013 World Championship.

Day-4 of the ISSF Rifle, Pistol and Shotgun World Cup in Gabala, Azerbaijan, saw the Chinese flag risen twice atop of the podium at the men’s 50m Pistol and at the women’s 25m Pistol finals, and the victory of USA’s 2008 Olympic Champion Walton Eller at the men’s Double Trap.

Hancock wins Skeet final and makes it to the US team for Rio 2016

The competition day was opened by the 50m Pistol Men event, won by the 2013 Asian Champion Mai Jiajie (27), from the People’s Republic of China. Mai, who had never won a world cup stage before, scored 565 points during the qualifications, and then marked 194.7 points in the final to finish atop of the podium. The Chinese athlete won with over 3 points of advantage on Daehun Park of the Republic of Korea (20) – ranked 10th in the world – who collected today’s silver with 191.4 points after qualifying for the final match with 567 points. The Republic of Korea celebrated twice, today, as their second finalist, Kim Cheongyong (18), made it to the third step of podium, collecting his first international medal ever with 169.9 points (and 563 qualification points). Rio 2016 Quota places went to Spain’s Pablo Carrera (29), who finished in fifth with 128.5 points, and to India’s Prakash Nanjappa (39), 8th with 70.1 points.

At the following 25m Pistol Women event, the 18-year old Chinese finalist Cao Lijia beat Russia’s Vitalina Batsarashkina (18) with a net score of 7 to 1 points in the gold medal match, after passing through the semi-final with 18 hits. “This is a great birthday present. I turned 18 just one month ago, and this medal is the best thing that could happen to me,” Cao said. “I am really happy about this gold, it’s my first international victory, and I hope I will get many more in the future. I would like to thank my coach and my team, without them this would not have happened.”

Silver medallist Vitalina Batsarashkina (semi-final: 20 hits, final: 1 point) earned a Rio 2016 Quota place, as the People’s Republic of China had already achieved the maximum number of quotas allowed per country in this event. Cao’s teammate Zhang Jingjing (26) – the reigning world champion – claimed today’s bronze as she beat London 2012 Olympic bronze medallist Olena Kostevych of Ukraine (30) by 7 to 3 points. The second Olympic quota up for grabs went to Mongolia’s 2013 Asian Champion Munkhzul Tsogbadrakh, who placed in 6th with 13 hits.

The 2008 Olympic champion Walton Eller (33) finished atop of the podium at the men’s Double Trap event, beating Great Britain’s Steven Scott (30) by 30 to 26 targets in the gold medal match. Scott, the silver medalist, gained an Olympic quota place for his country. The event’s second ticket to Rio went to Germany’s Michael Goldbrunner (29), who lost to Russia’s Vasily Mosin (43) in the bronze medal match.

It took a long time before getting to the medal matches. At the end of the semi-final, five athletes were tied in second place with 29 targets: India’s Asab Mohd (27), China’s Hu Binyuan (37), plus Eller, Goldbrunner, and Mosin. Hu was the first to leave the shoot-off, taking 6th place after missing just one target in the semi-final’s first 15 doubles.

China earns two more golds and USA’s 2008 Olympic Champ Eller comes back atop of the podium at the ISSF World Cup in Gabala

Then the shoot-off split in two: Eller and Goldbrunner fought to enter the gold medal match; Mosin and Mohd, for the bronze medal match. Mosin beat Mohd in the shoot-off (20-19), and Goldbrunner in the bronze medal match (30-29), securing the third spot. Eller beat Goldbrunner (4-3) to join Scott in the gold medal match.Scott, who had hit all of his 30 targets in the semifinal, then missed four and lost to Eller.

“I feel really good,” said Eller. “It’s been a while since I’ve been up on the top of the podium, so it’s nice to be back.” Winning a gold for the first time in the last two years, Eller feels now more optimistic about the Olympics. “Yeah,” Eller explained, “it puts me in a great spot for Rio. Hopefully I can just keep doing what I’m doing. I knew I had the ability to win a gold. I’ve been shooting really great scores in the last two to three years. It’s just that sometimes it’s tough: you got a lot of great competitors out here. They train just as hard as we do. Well, It’s nice to be on top.”

The 2015 ISSF World Cup in Gabala will continue tomorrow with the men’s 50m Rifle Prone and 25m Rapid Fire Pistol events. Finals are scheduled at 10.00 and 14.30 (GMT+5), and will be broadcasted live on http://www.issf-sports.org

Hancock Wins Skeet Final And Makes It To The US Team For Rio 2016

Two-time Olympic champion Vincent Hancock (USA) won today’s Skeet Men final in Gabala, securing a spot in the US Olympic team for Rio 2016. His aim is set: winning the third Olympic title in a row, something never achieved by a shotgun shooter before.

The 2008 and 2012 Olympic Champion Vincent Hancock of USA (26) won today’s Skeet Men final at the ISSF World Cup in Gabala, Azerbaijan, making the US team for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.

World’s #1 skeet shooter sets his sights on the next Games, with a clear goal: winning his third Olympic title in a row, something that no shotgun shooter has ever achieved.

“This victory jut put me on the US Olympic team for 2016. And I really want to shoot my third gold medal in a row at the Olympics.” Hancock confirmed right after the match.

“The training for Rio 2016 has already started a couple of years ago. But now I actually know that I am going to be there, so I can start planning what matches I am going to be going to, so that I can peak at the perfect spot: at the Games.”

“It has been been an amazing experience here. It was a long trip getting to Gabala, but having another gold medal is certainly what I came here for.” Added the American champion.

Hancock qualified with an almost-perfect score of 124 hits, missing only his very first target on day-1. At the semi-final, he cleared the round with a perfect 16, advancing to the Gold medal match where he met Austria’s Sebastian Kuntschik (26). The two athletes competed neck and neck right to the last shot, missing one target each and ending up with a tie score of 15 his. In the following shoot-off for the highest step of the podium, Hancock prevailed hitting 6 targets to Kuntschik’s 5, and collected his seventh ISSF World Cup Gold since 2005.

“I will be at the ISSF World Championships in September,” Hancock said, speaking about his road to Rio. “And then I qualified for the ISSF World Cup Finals in October. I have an opportunity to try to win my first gold medal at a world cup final: I have shot it four times, and I have four silvers. It’s time to go for it.”

“But nothing really means anything until we get to Rio.” The two-time Olympic champion added. “That’s my ultimate goal, that’s what I want. I want to get another Olympic Gold medal.”

Kuntschik (26), ranked 31st in the world, secured Silver (his best ISSF placement ever) and collected an Olympic Quota for his country.

Hancock wins Skeet final and makes it to the US team for Rio 2016

In the race for the Bronze, it was Italy’s Gabriele Rossetti (20) who stood out, making it to the third step of the podium with a perfect score of 16 hits in the medal match. The 2014 Junior Wolrd Champion, at his second participation in a world cup stage among senior athletes, qualified with 123 hits. He then cleared the semi-final by shuttering 15 targets, and left few chances to the 2014 African Champion Azmy Mehelba of Egypt (24), outscoring him 16 to 15 hits in the medal match.

Following the medallists, Argentina’s Federico Gil (27) secured a Rio 2016 Olympic berth by finishing in fifth place with 14+6 hits in the semi-final, after qualifying with 123 hits. Ranked 20th in the world, Gil marked his best ISSF placement ever, today. He was followed by the gold medallist of this year’s ISSF World Cup Stage in Larnaca (CYP), Saif Bin Futtais of the United Arab Emirates (41), who made it to today’s semi-final with 124 hits after five great qualification series. But the 2014 Asian Champion eventually lost his pace during the final phase of the competition, missing 4 semi-final targets and finishing in sixth place with 12 hits.

The 2015 ISSF Rifle, Pistol and Shotgun World Cup in Gabala, which sees the participation of 1100 athletes from 90 countries, will continue tomorrow with the men’s and women’s 10m Air Rifle finals, taking place at 14.30 and 19.00 (GMT +5), respectively. The finals will be broadcasted live on http://www.issf-sports.org

Italy’s Spada Claims Women’s Skeet Gold At The ISSF World Cup In Gabala (AZE)

The Italian shooter won the first Gold medal of the last ISSF World Cup Stage of the season held in Gabala, Azerbaijan, where 1100 athletes from 90 countries are competing in Rifle, Pistol and Shotgun events, trying to secure 34 Rio 2016 Olympic quota places and World Cup Final points.

Italy’s Katiuscia Spada (33) won the first Gold medal of the ISSF World Cup in Gabala (AZE), climbing atop of the women’s Skeet podium, today.

The 2003 ISSF World Championship silver medallist qualified with 73 targets, and then ruled the semi-final with a perfect score of 16 hits, making it into the Gold medal match where she met USA’s Morgan Craft, 22, the Bronze medallist of this year’s ISSF World Cup in Larnaca (CYP).

16 targets where not enough to decide the medal match, as the two shooters ended up tied with 15 hits each. In the following shoot-off, it was Spada who clinched the brightest medal, beating her opponents 4 to 3 hits. Craft secured Silver, her best ISSF result ever.

The Italian shooter came back on an ISSF podium four months after winning Bronze at last March’s ISSF World Cup Stage in Al Ain (UAE), at the end of a long season leading to Rio de Janeiro.

“It has been a great match, this is the result of a long preparation period, and of an intense season,” Spada said right after the medal ceremony. “We have been working hard and this medal pays off.”

“Ever since I came here in Gabala I had good feelings. The infrastructure is great, the targets are perfect, the event is well organized. And eventually these good feelings lifted me atop of the podium.”

“Scores have been extremely high here in Gabala,” Spada continued. “The game is getting really competitive. I zeroed in during the semi-final and I scored all the targets, and then I missed one clay during the medal match, but luckily I regained concentration in the shoot-off and I made it.”

Today’s Bronze medal went to Great Britain’s Amber Hill, 17, who finished in the spotlights once again after winning Gold at the first European Games edition, here in Azerbaijan, earlier this year.

Italy’s Spada claims women’s Skeet Gold at the ISSF World Cup in Gabala (AZE)

The young athlete qualified for the final phases of the competition with 73 hits, and then cleared the semi-final with 13 hits, advancing to the Bronze medal match where she met and beat Poland’s 24-year old Aleksandra Jarmolinska 16 to 15 hits.

Jarmolinska had qualified for today’s final in the lead, equalling the current world record with a perfect score of 75 hits out of 75 targets, and claimed a Rio 2016 Olympic quota place for her country. The 24-year old Polish athlete then hit 14 targets in the semi-final, and eventually ended up in fourth place with 15 hits in the medal match, behind Hill.

The 2004 and 2012 Olympic Silver medallist Wei Ning of the People’s Republic of China, 33, took today’s fifth place with 12 hits in the semi-final, after qualifying with 73 targets. She was followed by Caitlin Connor of USA, a 24-year old skeet shooter ranked fourth in the world, who survived a qualification shoot-off beating Chile’s Crovetto Chadid with 71+2 hits to access the semi-final, ending then up in sixth place with 12 hits.

Chile’s Francisca Crovetto Chadid, 25, secured the second Rio 2016 Olympic quota place up for grabs, as she placed in seventh with 72+1 hits.

The ISSF World Cup in Rifle, Pistol and Shotgun events in Gabala (AZE) will continue tomorrow, August 9th, with the Men’s Skeet final, scheduled to take place at 17.15 (GMT+5). After the first 50 qualification targets, six athletes are leading the pack with a perfect score of 50 hits: Georgios Achilleos (CYP), Saif Bin Futtais (UAE), Saud Habib (KUW), Azmy Mehelba (EGY), Emmanule Petit (FRA) and Gabriele Rossetti (ITA). Tomorrow’s final will be broadcasted live on http://www.issf-sports.org

Last ISSF World Cup Stage Kicks-Off In Gabala (AZE) – 1100 Athletes Chase 34 Rio 2016 Olympic Quotas

The last ISSF World Cup Stage of the season has been officially opened in Gabala, Azerbaijan, today. Athletes from 90 countries will compete in Rifle, Pistol and Shotgun events from the 7th through the 15th of August, trying to secure one of the 34 Olympic quotas up for grabs, and a pass for the 2015 ISSF World Cup Finals.

The last ISSF World Cup Stage of the season kicked-off today in Gabala, Azerbaijan, where over 1100 athletes coming from 90 countries, adding up to more than 1500 starts, will compete in the 15 Olympic Rifle, Pistol and Shotgun shooting events from the 7th through the 15th of August.

This is the last chance to secure qualification points for the ISSF World Cup Finals, which will take place in Munich, Germany (Rifle and Pistol events, September 1-7) and Nicosia, Cyprus (Shotgun events, October 15-21). But that’s not all: Gabala’s World Cup is also an Olympic qualifier event, with 34 Olympic quotas up for grabs as the countdown to Rio 2016 marks the 1-year-to-go milestone.

“After the European Games, this ISSF World Cup Stage is the most prestigious and largest sport event that we organize in our country,” the Deputy Minister of Youth and Sports of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Mr. Ismayil Ismayilov said at today’s opening ceremony. “It’s an honour to welcome athletes from 90 countries here in Gabala,” he added.

“We express our sincere and special thanks to the Shooting Federation of Azerbaijan and to the Organizing Committee for the outstanding preparations of this ISSF World Cup,” the ISSF Secretary General Franz Schreiber said. “Not only Shooting, but the whole European sports world experienced the warm welcome of the country during the recent European Games in Baku, and we would like to thank the people of Azerbaijan for their great support to the sport movement.”

ISSF President, Mr. Olegario Vazquez Raña

“I wish all athletes good luck and fair competitions!” Said the ISSF President, Mr. Olegario Vazquez Raña, as he declared the World Cup Stage officially opened.

The competition will start tomorrow, 8th of August, with Women’s Skeet Finals assigning the first medals and Olympic quotas at 18.45 (Azerbaijan time, GMT+5).

All the final matches will be broadcasted live on the ISSF’s Livestream page. Check the countdown to the next broadcast and find the links to watch the events live at http://www.issf-sports.org

2014 ISSF World Cup Series Ends in Gabala, Azerbaijan

ISSF – INTERNATIONAL SHOOTING SPORT FEDERATION

The 2014 ISSF World Cup Final in Rifle, Pistol and Shotgun events held in Gabala, Azerbaijan, from the 21st to the 28th of October, came to an end today.

154 athletes coming from 39 countries competed there in the 15 Olympic shooting events. Only the bests qualified to participate: the 2013 World Cup Final title defenders and the 2014 ISSF World Championship medallists met the top-8 athletes of each event, selected through this year’s ISSF World Cup Stages held in Fort Benning (USA), Tucson (USA), Almaty (KAZ), Munich (GER), Maribor (SLO) and Beijing (CHN).

The Russian Federation finished atop of the medal standing, pocketing 5 Gold, 1 Silver and 1 Bronze medals here in Gabala. The People’s Republic of China closed the event in second in spite of collecting an impressive total of 14 medals (3 Gold, 3 Silver, 8 Bronze). Germany followed in third with 2 Gold, 1 Silver and 1 Bronze medals.

photo credit, ISSF

Two records were equalled during the competition: USA’s Haley Dunn equalled the current Skeet Women World Record of 74 hits out of 75 targets, while Russia’s Leonid Ekimov equalled the 25m Rapid Fire Pistol Men Final World Record of 35 points.

“This year’s ISSF World Cup Final has been a great success.” The ISSF Secretary General Franz Schreiber said. “The athletes gave their best at the end of an intense season, and we would like to thank the organizers of this event who set up an excellent shooting range. This new facility in Gabala will host a combined ISSF World Cup Stage next year, and we are looking forward to come back here.”

The ISSF World Cup Final concluded the 2014 international shooting sport season.

The 2015 ISSF World Cup Series will kick-off from Acapulco (MEX) on the 28 of February, next year.