Athletes line up for last IPC Shooting World Cup ahead of Rio 2016 Paralympic Games

Nearly 140 athletes from more than 35 countries will take their last competitive shots before the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games from Sunday (1 May), at the IPC Shooting World Cup in Szczecin, Poland.

Whilst quota places for Rio 2016 have already been decided, shooters will try to make their case for selection.

Live results will be available at www.paralympic.org/shooting/live-results between 1-4 May.

The Polish duo of European champion Filip Rodzik and silver medallist Slawomir Okoniewski headline the field for the hosts in P1 (men’s 10m air pistol SH1).

They will both be hoping for a good performance having last reached the podium in Szczecin in 2013.

However Ukrainian Oleksii Denysiuk is looking to confirm his place on the team for his first Paralympic Games after winning three gold medals at the World Cup in Bangkok, Thailand, in March.

In P2 (women’s 10m air pistol SH1), former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia’s Olivera Nakovska-Bikova will make her much anticipated 2016 debut.

The World Championships bronze medallist will face current equal world No.1 Olga Kovalchuk of Ukraine.

On the rifle range, Slovakia’s world and European champion Veronika Vadovicova highlights the entries in R2 (women’s 10m air rifle standing SH1) and R3 (mixed 10m air rifle prone SH1).

Vadovicova has taken every opportunity to compete this year, and has already picked up three gold medals in both events and a world record in R3.

Germany’s Natascha Hiltrop, the European R3 champion, will try to prevent Vadovicova from dominating again.

Alongside them Australia’s Elizabeth Kosmala, a true legend of the sport, is celebrating 40 years since she entered her first Paralympic Games at Toronto 1976.

New Zealand’s Michael Johnson, a Paralympic bronze medallist, will make his season debut in R4 (mixed 10 air rifle standing SH2).

Serbia’s World Championships silver medallist and European champion Dragan Ristic will look to make an impact in R5 (mixed 10m air rifle prone SH2) over Worlds podium finisher Johnson.

Germany’s Josef Neumaier is in the midst of his preparations for his fifth Paralympic Games at Rio 2016, and will take aim in R1 (men’s 10m air rifle standing SH1).

Non-Paralympic events of falling target pistol and rifle will also be contested, as well as P5 (mixed 10m air pistols standard SH1).

The 2016 IPC Shooting World Cup in Szczecin will be the final competition ahead of the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games.

Pictures and live updates will be shared at @IPCShooting and Facebook.com/IPCShooting.

For further information, please visit www.ipc-shooting.org, Twitter.com/IPCShooting, www.Facebook.com/IPCShooting or www.ParalympicSport.TV.

Alternatively, please contact Lucy Dominy, IPC Public Relations and Campaigns Manager on e-mail: lucy.dominy@paralympic.org or call +49-228-2097-159.

20 Years at #1: Your best source of news about the Olympics is www.aroundtherings.com, for subscribers only