The best Rifle and Pistol shooters of the world met in Wroclaw, Poland, to compete in this year’s ISSF World Cup Final. The reigning World Champions, the title defenders and the best eighth World Cup competitions of the year will fight to secure the 2011 ISSF World Cup title starting from tomorrow morning right through the 24th of September.
Eighty-six athletes, coming from thirty-one countries (for a total of 99 starts), are competing in the 2011 Rifle and Pistol World Cup Final, which kicked off today in Wroclaw, Poland.
The event, with the first medal matches starting tomorrow, is the conclusive act of the 2011 ISSF Rifle and Pistol World Cup Series, which travelled from Sydney (AUS) to Changwon (KOR), passing through Fort Benning (USA) before landing in Munich (GER) where the last Rifle and Pistol Stage was conducted last June.
“The best shooters of the world are competing here for the 2011 ISSF World Cup Title. I am sure that the Organizers will provide the best possible conditions for this event.” The ISSF Secretary General - Mr. Franz Schreiber - said while declaring the Final officially opened, at today’s Opening Ceremony.
“We are happy to have you here on the recurrence of the 90th anniversary of the Polish shooting federation.” The President of the Polish shooting Federation, Mr. Tomasz Kwiecien said at the Opening Ceremony “We would like to thank the ISSF for entrusting us with the organization of this important competition.”
More than 2400 athletes participated in this year’s ISSF World Cup Series, and 96 Olympic Quota Places – the entrance tickets to the 2012 London Olympics - were distributed since March.
Only the best made it through and arrived to compete here in Wroclaw: the top eighth World Cup competitors of the year (qualified through a points system), the reigning world champions and the 2010 World Cup title defenders are eligible to participate in the competition, upon invitation of the organizers.
The first three medal matches, the 50m Rifle Prone Men, the 50m Pistol Men and the 25m Pistol Women finals will take place tomorrow, starting from 12.00 (GMT+1). Follow the event on www.issf-sports.org!
Schedule of the 2011 ISSF Rifle and Pistol World Cup Final: http://www.issf-sports.org/calendar/championship_schedule.ashx?cshipid=1183
Qualified athletes: http://www.issf-sports.org/results/wcf_qualification/portraits_riflepistol.ashx