The 2017 ISSF Junior World Championship in Rifle and Pistol events has been officially closed in Suhl, Germany, today.
The first ever separate ISSF Junior Wolrd Championship turned into a success as 543 junior athletes participated in the competitions between the 22nd and the 28th of June, representing 65 National Olympic Committees and piling up 978 starts, in 13 individual and team events.
The People’s Republic of China finished atop of the overall medal standings, winning a stunning total of 21 medals, including 11 individual medals (6 G, 2 S, 1B) and 8 team medals (4 G, 2 S, 2 B).
India followed in second with 2 individual gold and 1 individual silver, as well as 4 team medals (1 G, 1 S, 3 B), while Ukraine ranked third with 3 individual medals (2 G, 1 S, 1 B) and 2 team medals (1 G, 1 S).
12 new world record and one qualification records were established in both individual and team events, and two world record equalled.
Speaking at the closing ceremony, ISSF Vice President Gary Anderson said:
“The 1st ISSF Junior Worlds Championship for Rifle and Pistol has exceeded our expectations in every way.”
“Statistics tell only part of the story of how this new World Championship has succeeded.”
“We finished the Championship today with truly exciting competitions in our new Olympic Shooting events, Mixed Air Rifle and Air Pistol Teams. These are no longer just test events; they are real Olympic events. The huge number of entries in these events demonstrated how junior shooters are already enthusiastically embracing these new team events.”
“Once again, juniors have helped our sport take an important step forward.”
“On behalf of the ISSF, I want to thank the German Shooting Federation, the Thüringer Schützenbund and the City of Suhl for supporting and organizing this superb Championship.”
After 5 competition days, the championship was officially closed today, as the ISSF flag was handed over to the Russian Federation, in the lead up to the 2017 ISSF Shotgun World Championship, to be held in Moscow next September.