Rifle shooters to self-train as new coach gets visa after delay

National Rifle Association of India (NRAI) President Raninder Singh

PUNE: Newly-appointed rifle foreign coach Oleg Mikhailov will not be able to contribute much in preparing Indian shooters ahead of the ISSF World Cupscheduled in New Delhi from February 23. Reason: visa delay from the Indian Embassy in Ukraine.

The Ukrainian coach, who struck a two-year deal with National Rifle Association of India (NRAI) immediately after the Rio Games in August, was waiting for his visa since then.

According to the Embassy, Mikhailov's visa application got stuck due to delay in clearance from the Ministry of Home Affairs.

"We had got the clearance from the Sports Ministry, but didn't get the go ahead from the MHA. But we have got it today itself and have issued the visa for the coach," said Gurbachan Singh, second secretary, visa department of the Indian Embassy in Kyiv.

Mikhailov won't get much time to work with shooters for the World Cup since he is expected to land in India in the second week of this month.

Posted by Thom Erik Syrdahl

Source - http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/

Rio games flops likely to face axe in ISSF World Cup

By Anmol Gurung 

CHENNAI: The countdown has begun for shooters: 28 days it is for the upcoming ISSF World Cup to held in New Delhi. Never before has India staged a competition of this stature. Top shooters from around the world will be gunning for a good start to the season.

For Indian shooters, this is a massive opportunity to put recent doubts to bed and make home advantage count. After the Olympic debacle, a big change is likely in the composition of the team. Four, who were part of that barren outing, are likely to face the axe when the National Rifle Association of India (NRAI) announces the team.

After recent selection trials in Pune, noted shooters like Ayonika Paul and Manavjit Singh Sandhu are likely to make way for new faces. According to the rankings put up by NRAI, Ayonika is well off the mark at 51st spot in an event dominated by Pooja Ghatkar, Meghna Sajjanar and Vineeta Bharawdaj. Apurvi Chandela, 2014 Commonwealth gold medallist, is placed fourth.

While there are clouds over the trio’s selection, pistol specialists Jitu Rai and Heena Sidhu are tipped to lead the Indian challenge. Both were toppers in their respective events during the trials. “Yes, the rankings are there for everyone to see. We are taking everything into consideration and will announce the team very soon,” Rajeev Bhatia, NRAI secretary, told Express.

London Olympics bronze medallist Gagan Narang, who featured in three competitions at the Rio Olympics, is No 1 in his pet event (50m rifle prone) but the Chennai-born shooter from Hyderabad is likely to miss out on 10m air rifle after the unheralded Ravi Kumar and Deepak Kumar outscored him. As things stand, the veteran is waiting on his fate. “The national body has not communicated anything regarding the selection. Let’s see what will happen,” the 33-year-old told Express from Pune.

Reigning national champ Sushil Ghaley is likely to line up alongside Narang. Armyman Chain Singh is expected to complete the team.

Former World Championship gold medallist (2010 Munich), Tejaswini Sawant is one of the standout names on the list. The Maharashtra shooter is No 1 in her pet event (50m rifle prone) and ranked second in 50m rifle 3 position.

anmol@newindianexpress.com

Posted by Thom Erik Syrdahl

Source- http://www.newindianexpress.com/sport/

2017 European Championship 10m Maribor: live TV and EBU distribution information

23-01-2017

European Championship 10m · Maribor, SLO

The European Shooting Confederation will offer live TV coverage of the 2017 European Championship 10m in Maribor (6-12 March) via the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) network.

The European Shooting Confederation informs that the 2017 European Championship 10m to be held in the city of Maribor, Slovenia, from the  6th through the 12th of March, will be broadcasted live on TV and distributed through the EBU network.

The National Slovenian TV company RTV Slovenija will arrange the TV production of the competitions and will transmit the signal to the European Broadcasting Union (EBU). This means that broadcasters will be able to access the signal and broadcast the competitions of the best European shooters, in the four 10m individual Olympic events as well as in the two Mixed Team events. .

The Finals in Air Pistol Men and Air Rifle Women competitions will take place on 10th March and the Finals in Air Rifle Men, Air Pistol Women as well as in the Rifle and Pistol Mixed Team events will take place on 11th March 2017. The broadcasting of each Mixed Team event will include two Semifinals and the Medal Matches. Find the full competition schedule here (click to open).

The access to the EBU signal will be possible only with written permission of the European Shooting Confederation (ESC). In order to get such permission, broadcasters that are interested to access the signal must apply to the ESC Secretariat by email (esc@escsport.eu) and pay the applicable rates for the broadcasting rights on the territory of their country.

ESC Press Release  

Posted by Thom Erik Syrdahl

Source - ISSF Website

ISSF to inspect Karni Range on Jan 25

The technical delegates from Croatia will inspect the Karni Singh Shooting Ranges  next week, which will be hosting its first-ever ISSF World Cup, starting from february

The ISSF Athletes Committee, headed by Abhinav Bindra, has sought to replace the double-trap men’s event with a mixed-gender trap event.  – VIJAY BATE

A team of technical delegates from Croatia will next week inspect the Karni Singh Shooting Ranges, which will be hosting its first-ever ISSF World Cup, next month.

The technical delegates will be inspecting the venue on January 25. The year’s first World Cup will start from February 23.

The tournament assumes significance as it will also become the first calendar event to try out new mixed team events recommended by the International Shooting Sport Federation’s Athletes Committee.

In a controversial decision, the ISSF Athletes Committee has recommended mixed-gender team events for the Olympic Games.

The committee, headed by Abhinav Bindra, has sought to replace t he double-trap men’s event with a mixed-gender trap event, convert the 50m prone men’s event into a mixed-gender air rifle event and the 50m pistol men’s event into a mixed-gender air pistol event.

Meanwhile, the Indian team selection for the World Cup is scheduled tomorrow with veteran trap exponent Manavjit Singh Sandhu and a few other seniors are likely to be get the axe.

The selection committee, instead, is set to blood a few youngsters who have been producing admirable performances in recent times. The scores in the recently-concluded trials will be taken into account while picking the team for the tournament.

Posted by Thom Erik Syrdahl

Source - http://www.sportstarlive.com/

Ragnar Skanaker Releases His Latest Book

2017-01-20

New Book Information - BUY YOUR COPY NOW!!! Be one of the first to read it....'Order Form'

Pistol Shooting Queensland are proud to be the Australian and New Zealand Distributor of Ragnar Skanaker's new book 'Master Competitive Pistol Shooting'. This is a great book for people of all levels and definitely motivates you to 'give-it-a-go' and work a little to see how well you can shoot.

A little about the man behind the book who has such an illustrious career in our sport and a man we will all be honoured to have visit for his Book Launch on February 11th at Belmont. Ragnar’s book, ‘Master Competitive Pistol Shooting’ is now for sale through Pistol Shooting Qld.

Ragnar is a 7 time Olympian from 1972 through to 1996, culminating with an Olympic record on a 567 in 50m Pistol in 72, one Gold medal, two silver and one bronze medal.

Ragnars list of podium medals includes some 3 gold, 1 silver and 2 bronze from World Championships with a World Record of 583 in 25m Standard Pistol in 1978 in Seoul

Ragnar also has some 5 Gold, 6 silver and 4 bronze World Cup medals. 587 in Air pistol being one of his highest achieved scores at this level of competition.

Quotes from the book:

 “If you take the advice from this book you will have a better life and, if you train properly, also get possibilities to travel and find friends all over the world. Everybody can, it’s just hard work!”

 “From the stadium of beginning it will take time to get into world class, i would say normally ten years.”

 “Find out your own style and learn it to perfection.”

 “Anyone who wants to be a champion in any of the pistol shooting events will without doubt fail without first learning the basics in pistol shooting.”

Posted by Thom Erik Syrdahl

Source - http://pistolshootingqld.org.au/news/ragnar-skanaker-releases-his-latest-book

Niccolò Campriani and Anna Korakaki win the 2016 ISSF Shooter of the Year awards

It’s the first award for the 20-year-old Greek Pistol shooter, while Campriani already won the trophy back in 2012. The two athletes won a total of 4 Olympic medals at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games: three Golds and one Bronze.

The final verdict of the 2016 season is out: Italy’s Niccolò Campriani and Greece’s Anna Korakaki are the male and female ISSF Shooter of the Year award winners.

Both athletes shined the most at the Olympic Games held in Rio de Janeiro (BRA) last August, claiming two medals each and sealing their season with the exclamation point of the prestigious award.

Anna Korakaki first claimed the Olympic Bronze medal in the women’s 10m Air Pistol event, eventually becoming the Olympic Champion in the 25m Pistol women event on August 9th.

Korakaki is the first Greek athlete to win an Olympic medal in Shooting in 120 years: in 1896, in fact, Pistol shooter Ioannis Phrangoudis won two medals in the first edition of the modern Olympic Games: 1 Gold and 1 Bronze.

Anna Korakaki’s season also saw her claim two medals during the ISSF World Cup stage in Baku (AZE) and two at the ISSF Junior World Cup in Suhl (GER). In Baku she pocketed 2 Silvers in the 10m Air Pistol Women and in the 25m Pistol Women, while in Suhl she placed 1st in the 10m air Pistol Women event and 2nd in the 25m Pistol Women event.

At the ISSF World Cup Final in Bologna (ITA), then, she put the icy on the cake of her outstanding season, claiming the ISSF globe in the women’s 25m Pistol event and placing 2nd in the women’s 10m Air Pistol one.

“I’m very happy about this award,” Korakaki said. “It’s an honor to be given such a title by the coaches, the athletes and the members of the media. I wanna thank them all.”

“Winning is more than just medals to me, I overcame many challenges and many difficulties in the past years, like many athletes in the world. So above all, this a recognition to all the efforts I made.” She continued.

“2016 has been by far my most successful year, everything came right with perfect timing and I’ve been finally able to put into effect what I’ve been learning and working on for all these years. It’s my first Shooter of the Year award and I hope it’s not the last one.” Concluded the Greek shooter.

29-year-old Niccolò Campriani also wrote a page of history during the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, as he won 2 Gold medals in the men’s 10m Air Rifle and men’s 50m Rifle 3 Position events, becoming the most successful Rifle shooter in the history of the Olympic Games.

Indeed, Campriani previously secured 1 Gold and 1 Silver medal at London 2012.

"Once again the ISSF Shooter of the Year nomination caught me by surprise,” said Campriani. “I had amazing performances at the Olympic Games but I can't say the same for the rest of the season... I want to believe that all the bad finals that I had in the past 4 years, all the mistakes and the 8th places, gave me the knowledge and the tools to face the Games in Rio.”

“Due to this I was able to give my very best when it counted the most,” he continued. “It's a message of hope for all my fellow shooters: don't give up on your dreams, no matter how tough it may look. I want to thank the ISSF for recognizing my efforts and all the people that have supported me in this journey and made it possible."

The award has been assigned by the International Shooting Sport Federation according to the vote of the ISSF Coaches Advisory Committee, the ISSF Athletes Committee and a selected panel of media representatives.

Here’s the top-10 male athletes according to the poll:

1. Niccolò Campriani (ITA)
2. Jin Jongoh (KOR)
3. Hoang Xuan Vinh (VIE)
4. Christian Reitz (GER)
5. Felipe Almeida Wu (BRA)
6. Matthew Emmons (USA)
7. Henri Junghaenel (GER)
8. Gabriele Rossetti (ITA)
9. Sergey Kamenskiy (RUS)
10. James Willett (AUS)

And the top-10 ranking female athletes:

1. Anna Korakaki (GRE)
2. Barbara Engleder (GER)
3. Du Li (CHN)
4. Snjezana Pejcic (CRO)
5. Kimberly Rhode (USA)
6. Zhang Mengxue (CHN)
7. Ray Bassil (LBN)
8. Diana Bacosi (ITA)
9. Olena Kostevych (UKR)
10. Corey Cogdell (USA)

Campriani and Korakaki will be honored with the trophy during the course of the 2017 ISSF World Cup Series.

Marco Vettoretti

Posted by Thom Erik Syrdahl

Source- ISSF Website

New team event formats approved for 2017 European Shooting Championships

• By Daniel Etchells
 
•  Sunday, 15 January 2017

New formats of the team events in the women's skeet and trap categories will be introduced at the 2017 European Shooting Championships in Azerbaijan’s capital Baku, it has been announced.

It follows the introduction of mixed team events on the programs of the 2015 European Games, also held in Baku, and the 2016 European Championships.

The winners of the competitions will be determined not by scoring calculation of three individual results after the qualification stage, but following the quarter-final, semi-final and medal match stages of the top-eight ranked teams after qualification.

During the 2017 European 10 metres Championship in Slovenian city Maribor, the winners of all team events are still going to be determined according to existing rules.

The new format is only going to be tested in four events; the junior women's pistol, junior men's rifle, women's rifle and men's pistol.

The European Shooting Confederation (ESC) says this is because the schedule of the Championship was approved long ago and it does not have "windows" for additional competitions.

If athletes and spectators like the new format for air pistol and air rifle team events, the continental governing body said it could become "official" starting from the 2018 European 10m Championship.

Mixed team events featured on the program of the Baku 2015 European Games ©Getty Images

In November, three mixed gender team events were recommended for the 2020 Olympic program in Tokyo by an International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) Ad-Hoc Committee as the governing body seeks to establish gender equality.

The Committee was established to meet the International Olympic Committee’s (IOC) Agenda 2020 reforms, which stated they would "work with the IFs (International Federations) to achieve 50 per cent female participation in the Olympic Games".

A recommendation was made to replace the double trap men’s event with a trap mixed gender team competition, while the 50m rifle prone men’s discipline would become a 10m air rifle mixed gender team event.

The third change would see the men’s 50m pistol competition become a mixed gender 10m air pistol event, something which former ISSF World Cup Final organizer Francesco Repich criticized.

The ISSF Council are due to make a final decision by the end of next month, which will then be put forward to the IOC for their approval in mid-2017.

Posted by Thom Erik Syrdahl

Source - http://www.insidethegames.biz/

India and British Shooting are looking for Coaches for their national teams

Job openings: India is hiring an experienced Pistol coach

The Indian shooting team is looking for an English-speaking Pistol coach with proven international experience.

The Sports Authority of India (SAI), a body set up by the Governament of India, Ministry of Youth Affair and Sports with the aim to promote and broad-base sports in the country, is in process of appointing a Shooting coach in pistol events, to train and assist the Indian shooting team.

The Coach should be English speaking and have working knowledge in English, as well as a National / Continental level experience in the role of at least 3-5 years.

Find the full job description here (click to download).

To apply, or for more information, please refer directly to the Sports Authority of India, at teams-sai@gov.in

NRAI Press relese

Job openings: British Shooting is looking for three world class coaches

Paralympic Rifle Performance Coach, Olympic Rile Performance Coach and Olympic Shotgun Performance Coach job vacancies. Application deadline on 1st February 2017.

British Shooting, the ISSF Member Federation of Great Britain, is looking for three world class coaches with internationally recognized coaching qualifications and experience.

As part of a new performance structure, British Shooting is indeed looking to appoint a full time / contract for the following roles:

• Paralympic Rifle Performance Coach
• Olympic Rifle Performance Coach
• Olympic Shotgun Performance Coach

Please, find the complete job descriptions on their website, at:

http://britishshooting.org.uk/news/title=World_Class_Coaching_Vacancies&d=1281

To apply, please refer to British Shooting directly, and email them at secretary@britishshooting.org.uk with your CV and a covering letter by the 1st February 2017.

British Shooting Press Release

Marksman Vinh to participate in ISSF World Cup

Update: January, 12/2017 

Hoàng Xuân Vinh will compete in Indian International Shooting Sport Federation World cup next month. — File Photo

Viet Nam News

HÀ NỘI — Marksman and Olympic winner Hoàng Xuân Vinh is all set to take part in the International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) World Cup, which will start on February 22 in India.

It will be his first international tournament after the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.

Vinh will take part in the 10m air pistol and 50m pistol categories, his strong points. He won the gold medal at Rio and is world No 1 in the 10m category, and is world No 2 in the 50m category, after he lifted the silver in Rio.

In India, the soldier will compete with strong rivals such as Wang Zhiwei of China, Felipe Almeida Wu of Brazil and Tomoyuki Matsuda of Japan, all high-ranking shooters.

Apart from Vinh, other Vietnamese shooters will also fly to New Delhi to compete in the pistol and rifle events, including  medal-winner Hà Minh Thành, who came third in the men’s 25m rapid pistol event in Bangkok last year. The tournament will go on till March 4.

Prior to his wins in Rio, Vinh has brought home one silver (50m pistol) and one bronze (10m air pistol) from the ISSF World Cup.

After India, Việt Nam will take part in two other World Cups, in Germany in May and Azerbaijan in June. — VNS

Posted by Thom Erik Syrdahl
Source - http://vietnamnews.vn/

Olympic debacle has put fear in my mind, says Jitu Rai

By Anmol Gurung  |  Express News Service  |   Published: 12th January 2017

Shooter Jitu Rai (File|AFP)


CHENNAI: When Jitu Rai was winning medals at will, the pistol ace seemed like a superhuman. With zen-like focus, the unassuming Armyman had shot down many firsts for India in the process. 

A lot of followers would bask in amazement as the 29-year-old plucked one medal after another, making it look like a child’s play. During the build-up to the Rio Olympics, Jitu’s name would be one of the first to pop up while discussing India’s biggest medal prospects. 

Unfortunately, Jitu’s journey in Rio turned out to be an anticlimax.
It was a harsh lesson for the Nepal-born shooter, who had crossed the border in search of better life and picked up the sport by chance. The usually calm nerves betrayed him then and he was unable to deliver when it mattered the most. All those hours of hard work and past performances counted for nothing. 

Looking ahead, he has a cautious approach. He seems more human but his dedication to the sport remains undiminished. 

“I have fears in my mind too. There was a lot of questioning post the Olympics. The Rio debacle is dead and buried but it is a strong reminder that things can go wrong,” he told Express.
“I’m not sure what will happen in future. Just mulling over the matter won’t take me far,” added the diminutive shooter.

After that heartbreaking tale, he was seen in action during the National Championships in December, last year. The Rio aftershock was evident as he failed to live up to his standards. “I have had ups and downs in recent times. My performance in the National Championships in December) was not up to the mark. I have to buckle up,” he conceded. Jitu will be in action during the selection trials in the next few days in Pune. The trials are being held for the upcoming ISSF World Cup to be held in New Delhi.

“We will be hosting the World Cup for the first time so I really want to give my best. Many fans will turn up with big expectations and the media will also be keeping close tabs on us. A lot of focus will be on us.
“When you are competing outside, there is no pressure. You are on your own.”

Things could get worse for Jitu if the recent ISSF Athletes Committee recommendations are approved. The panel has sent a proposal to scrap 50m pistol — Jitu’s pet event. “I have written to the ISSF to give a rethink on the matter. I hope they don’t scrap the same.”

Ask him about his New Year’s resolution, and he says, it is about becoming a wiser shooter. “One thing I’m really keen on is winning the World Championship. I also want to do  well in the Commonwealth Games and Asian Games. I know I have the skills to achieve the same but I need to work really hard,” he signed off.


Posted by Thom Erik Syrdahl
Source - http://www.newindianexpress.com/

Treino sozinho, mesma renda e volta à faculdade: a versão 2017 de Felipe Wu

05/01/2017 07h30 - Atualizado em 05/01/2017 15h20

Medalhista de prata na Rio 2016 perdeu técnico colombiano, não conseguiu novos patrocinadores e retomou os estudos em Engenharia Aeroespacial pensando no futuro

Por Helena RebelloRio de Janeiro

Conquistar a primeira medalha do Brasil na Rio 2016 e quebrar um jejum de 96 anos sem pódio olímpico no tiro esportivo parecia o bastante para mudar a vida de Felipe Wu. A prata de fato trouxe muita visibilidade ao atleta, mas o reconhecimento do público e da mídia não se transformou em uma melhor estrutura ou novos patrocínios. Pelo contrário. Passada a Olimpíada, o atleta de 24 anos voltou a treinar sozinho no Hebraica, sem a orientação de um técnico, e segue com apenas uma arma para competir. Assim, retomou a faculdade de Engenharia Aeroespacial, já vislumbrando uma carreira paralela no futuro. 

+ Já ouviu falar do Projeto Tóquio? Conheça 10 atletas que podem brilhar até 2020

Felipe Wu exibe medalha de prata: fim de jejum de 96 anos sem pódio olímpico brasileiro no tiro esportivo (Getty Images)

Depois de subir ao pódio nos Jogos, Wu foi procurado por um fabricante de munições de armas de fogo. Mas as conversas iniciais não avançaram depois do evento. O paulista tem apenas o apoio de uma fabricante de chumbinho e do Exército, do qual é atleta desde 2013, além de receber o Bolsa Pódio, benefício do governo federal, por ser medalhista olímpico – desde junho do ano passado ele já se enquadrava na mesma categoria por ter alcançado a liderança do ranking mundial na pistola de ar (10m).

A principal mudança na estrutura de treinos de Wu foi a saída do técnico colombiano Bernardo Tobar, que passou apenas um ano vinculado à Confederação Brasileira de Tiro Esportivo (CBTE). Apesar do pouco tempo de trabalho, o treinador foi muito elogiado. Para Wu, as pequenas nuances apontadas por Tobar o ajudaram muito na reta final da preparação olímpica.

- Com certeza a maior mudança foi a saída do meu técnico, que voltou para a Colômbia. Eu voltei a treinar sozinho, totalmente por conta própria. Era muito importante ter alguém acompanhando o dia a dia, vendo os detalhes, se fazemos algo diferente – disse o atleta, acrescentando que acredita que a situação será revista e Tobar retornará ao cargo.

Tobar, de camisa verde, foi responsável por lapidar Felipe Wu rumo à prata na Rio 2016 (Foto: André Durão)

O aspecto mais positivo da medalha olímpica foi o carinho dos fãs. Hoje Wu é reconhecido por onde passa e posa para fotos com frequência.O status de medalhista olímpico, no entanto, não foi suficiente para evitar um constrangimento e um grande prejuízo esportivo recentemente.

Em meados de outubro, Wu e a namorada, a também atiradora Rosane Budag, voltavam de uma competição na Itália rumo a Curitiba, onde disputariam a última etapa do Campeonato Brasileiro. Na conexão no Aeroporto de Guarulhos, em São Paulo, um erro de procedimento da companhia aérea no despacho das armas fez com que a Polícia Federal fosse acionada no raio-x de bagagens. O casal de atletas ficou retido por cerca de cinco horas até que tudo fosse resolvido, mas perdeu o torneio e a chance de disputar os títulos das respectivas provas.

Wu posta imagem de estudo da faculdade em rede social e pede férias (Reprodução Instagram)

São essas burocracias excessivas e a falta de apoio que desanimam os profissionais. Wu ainda adota uma postura otimista e evita reclamar, mas constrói paralelamente à carreira de atleta um futuro em outra profissão. Passados os Jogos, ele retomou os estudos do curso de Engenharia Aeroespacial, trancado desde abril. Para dar conta de tudo, reduziu temporariamente a carga de treinos.

- É bem complicado (estudar) agora que voltei a treinar. Certamente minha dedicação não é como em 2016 porque minha dedicação era total aos treinos, tranquei a faculdade, mas espero conciliar bem e ter bom rendimento. Infelizmente nosso esporte não é muito profissional, e eu preciso ter um plano B. Acho que termino o curso bem próximo de Tóquio (Jogos de 2020), um pouco antes ou um pouco depois.

Para facilitar a vida de Wu, o calendário do tiro esportivo em 2017 está bem mais ameno do que nas temporadas em que há contagem de pontos para o ranking de classificação olímpica. Os primeiros compromissos serão ainda em janeiro, em competições na Alemanha e na Holanda. Haverá apenas três etapas de Copa do Mundo, em março, maio e junho. E no segundo semestre, ainda sem data ou local confirmados, o medalhista olímpico disputará o Sul-Americano e o Ibero-Americano.

50m pistol faces the firing squad

Shooting

Jacob Roberts / Staff Writer

JANUARY 5, 2017 12:11 PM

Gibsons’ marksman Allan Harding has been working towards a goal of shooting 
in the 50m pistol event at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, but a recommendation 
to remove the event may stand in his way.

Gibsons marksman Allan Harding has dreams of shooting in the Olympics, but his main event – the 50m pistol – might not see the light of day at Tokyo 2020.

In an effort to encourage gender equality at the Olympics, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) is working with international federations – including the International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) – to encourage mixed gender team events. That could mean the elimination of certain male-only events, like the 50m pistol.

“That’s what I’ve been focusing on for the last couple of years,” Harding said. “It’s what I was setting my sights on for Tokyo 2020, the 50m pistol event. I find it to be the toughest pistol event – or shooting event – in the world. The target has never changed, it’s never been reduced the way that other events have.

“Over time, targets have gotten smaller because people in the competition have gotten better,” Harding said. “Records were being tied so they made the targets smaller to set new records. But the 50m pistol event – that target – has never changed because it’s so difficult no one has ever come close to hitting a perfect score. To see it go away would just be really sad.”

The question many people are asking is, why not let women compete in the 50m pistol instead of removing it entirely – but the reality, Harding explained, is that there is limited time to develop a women’s 50m event internationally for the next Olympic Games.

The recommendation is to remove the 50m pistol event – as well as the 50m rifle prone men and double trap men (a shotgun event) – and replace them with mixed gender events. Chairman of the ISSF Athletes Committee Abhinav Bindra released a statement encouraging shooters to “look at the bigger picture.”

“Shooting currently has nine men’s events and six women’s events on the Olympic program, so major changes are necessary,” Bindra said.

“Several factors such as universality, sport presentation, grassroots development, sustainability, environmental and cost factors were taken into consideration,” Bindra said. “The huge success of the 10m air mixed team events at the Youth Olympics was also considered and we were informed of the encouraging response of the IOC towards the mixed events.”

Currently these men’s shooting events are still on the Olympic slate – their removal is just a recommendation – but Harding is concerned that the ISSF is leaning towards cutting his primary event.

“I think it’s a really slippery slope if they start to move away from the non-air pistol events and I hate to see them go in that direction,” Harding said. “50m pistol has been in the Olympics for over 100 years.”

Harding said he plans to shift his focus back to the 10m Air pistol event, but he hasn’t given up on the 50m pistol, as it will still be a competitive event at the international level.

A petition to save the 50m pistol event has been started on www.change.org – follow the shortened URL at bit.ly/2hNCl2V to sign the petition. It has already accrued over 5,000 signatures.

© Copyright 2017 Coast Reporter - See more at: http://www.coastreporter.net/sports/local-sports/50m-pistol-faces-the-firing-squad-1.6377634#sthash.jmXIHAKN.dpuf


Posted by Thm Erik Syrdahl 
Source - http://www.coastreporter.net/sports/local-sports/50m-pistol-faces-the-firing-squad-1.6377634