Officials have been making preparations ahead of the World Cup in Szczecin which begins on May 1 ©Facebook/IPC Shooting
Oleksii Denysiuk will look to stake his claim for a place on the Ukrainian shooting team for the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games when he competes at the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) Shooting World Cup in Szczecin.
The competition in the Polish city, which is scheduled to begin on Sunday (May 1), will be the final chance for athletes to shoot at a World Cup ahead of the Games.
Although Rio 2016 quota places have already been decided, athletes will be looking to impress their national coaches as they look to secure their spots at the Paralympics, where competition will take place from September 8 to 14.
Having earned three gold medals at the World Cup in Bangkok last month, Denysiuk will be expected to make his Paralympic debut later his year.
He will hope to further his claim for selection by achieving further success in Poland at the four-day event.
Slovakia’s world and European champion Veronika Vadovicova will be the shooter to watch in the women’s events, when she competes in the R2 10 metre air rifle standing SH1 and R3 mixed 10m air rifle prone SH1.
Slovakian star Veronika Vadovicova will be expected to earn medals in Szczecin
Slovakian star Veronika Vadovicova will be expected to earn medals in Szczecin ©Getty Images
She will expect to face strong competition from Germany’s Natascha Hiltrop, who is the current European champion in the R3 event.
Ukraine’s Olga Kovalchuk, the world number one in the P2 women’s 10m air pistol SH1 rankings, will clash with Macedonia’s Olivera Nakovska-Bikova, who is making her season debut.
The host nation will be hopeful that European champion Filip Rodzik and his team-mate Slawomir Okoniewski can deliver success in the P1 men’s 10m air pistol SH1 competition.
Around 140 athletes from more than 35 countries are expected to take part in the World Cup.

Posted by Thom Erik Syrdahl
Source: http://www.insidethegames.biz/articles/1036964/denysiuk-looking-to-further-rio-2016-claim-at-ipc-shooting-world-cup-in-szczecin