The best shotgun shooters of the world met in Al Ain for the last match of the year: who will rise up the five ISSF Cups?
The 2011 ISSF Shotgun World Cup Final officially kicked-off in Al Ain (UAE), today.
The ISSF President, Mr. Olegario Vazquez Raña, welcomed the top class shotgun shooters of the world, who will compete at the Al Ain Equestrian, Shooting and Golf Club from the 30th of September through the 7th of October.
Only the bests are eligible to participate in this match: the reigning World Champions, the 2010 title defenders and the top-8 2011 World Cup performers, selected throughout this year’s four ISSF World Cup Stages in Conception (CHI), Sydney (AUS), Beijing (CHN) and Maribor (SLO).
Five ISSF Cups, are to be assigned in the five Olympic events of Skeet, Trap (Men and Women) and Double Trap Men. Fifty-nine competitors, coming from twenty-four countries, will try to secure them, on the layouts Al Ain’s shooting ground.
The Patron of the event, H.H. Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the Al Ain Equestrian, Shooting and Golf Club, officially declared open the competition, exchanging then a present in sign of mutual recognition with the ISSF President Olegario Vazquez Raña.
The competitors were also saluted by the UAE’s Ruler’s representative for the Eastern Region, H.H. Sheik Tahnoon bin Mohammed Al Nahyan, who participated in the opening ceremony and also joined the dancers during the traditional UAE folklore show.
H.E. Mohammed Rashid Al Nasseri, the President of the Organizing Committee, also welcomed the shooters, thanking the ISSF and local authorities that joined the opening ceremony.
“We thank you all for hosting us here, in this beautiful country. It’s with great pleasure that we open this ISSF World Cup Final held here in Al Ain.” The ISSF President, Mr. Olegario Vazuquez Raña said at the opening ceremony, also saluting the four ISSF Vice-Presidents present at the ceremony, Mr. Medhat Wadhan (Technical Delegate for this competition), H.H. Sheik Salman Al Sabah (President of the Asian Shooting Sport Confederation), Mr. Luciano Rossi and Mr. Gary Anderson.
“The best shooters of the world are competing here in Al Ain. I wish you all good luck, and a successful competition!” The ISSF President said.
The first medal match, the Skeet Women final, will take place tomorrow, at 15.15. Follow the match on www.issf-sports.org!