Last ISSF World Cup Stage kicks-off in Gabala
Athletes from 90 countries will compete in Rifle, Pistol and Shotgun events from the 7th through Aug 15, trying to secure one of the 34 Olympic quotas up for grabs, and a pass for the 2015 ISSF World Cup Finals.
The last ISSF World Cup Stage of the season kicked-off today in Gabala, Azerbaijan, where over 1100 athletes coming from 90 countries, adding up to more than 1500 starts, will compete in the 15 Olympic Rifle, Pistol and Shotgun shooting events from the 7th through the 15th of August.
This is the last chance to secure qualification points for the ISSF World Cup Finals, which will take place in Munich, Germany (Rifle and Pistol events, September 1-7) and Nicosia, Cyprus (Shotgun events, October 15-21). But that's not all: Gabala's World Cup is also an Olympic qualifier event, with 34 Olympic quotas up for grabs as the countdown to Rio 2016 marks the 1-year-to-go milestone.
“After the European Games, this ISSF World Cup Stage is the most prestigious and largest sport event that we organize in our country,” the Deputy Minister of Youth and Sports of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Mr. Ismayil Ismayilov said at today's opening ceremony. “It's an honour to welcome athletes from 90 countries here in Gabala,” he added.
“We express our sincere and special thanks to the Shooting Federation of Azerbaijan and to the Organizing Committee for the outstanding preparations of this ISSF World Cup,” the ISSF Secretary General Franz Schreiber said. “Not only Shooting, but the whole European sports world experienced the warm welcome of the country during the recent European Games in Baku, and we would like to thank the people of Azerbaijan for their great support to the sport movement.”
“I wish all athletes good luck and fair competitions!” Said the ISSF President, Mr. Olegario Vazquez Raña, as he declared the World Cup Stage officially opened.
The competition will start tomorrow, 8th of August, with Women's Skeet Finals assigning the first medals and Olympic quotas at 18.45 (Azerbaijan time, GMT+5).
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