World Cup Bangkok Opens

[USA Shooting]

http://www.issf-sports.org/news.ashx?newsid=2489

ISSF Rifle / Pistol World Cup opens in Bangkok: last chance to achieve MQS before Rio
ISSF World Cup Rifle / Pistol · Bangkok, THA

Over 330 athletes from 49 countries arrived in Thailand to participate in the inaugural ISSF Rifle and Pistol World Cup of the year, which offers the last chance to achieve Minimum Qualification Scores before the Games. The first medals will be assigned tomorrow morning (3rd of March).

The 2016 ISSF World Cup in Rifle and Pistol event in Bangkok, Thailand - the first shooting sport world cup stage of the year - has been officially opened at the NSSAT Shooting Range of Bangkok, today.

331 athletes coming from 49 countries (adding up to a total of 522 starts) arrived here in Bangkok to compete in this World Cup Stage, which offers the last chance to Rifle and Pistol shooters to secure their Minimum Qualification Scores before Rio 2016. Ten medal matches are scheduled during the event, which runs from the 2nd through the 9th of March.

The ISSF Technical Delegate Willi Grill welcomed the participants on behalf of the International Shooting Sport Federation, at today’s opening ceremony.

“The ISSF President Olegario Vazquez Raña and the ISSF Secretary General Franz Schreiber send their best regards to you all. To be back in Bangkok, four years after our last event here, is a dream that comes true,” said Mr. Grill.

“I would like to thank the Organizing Committee of this competition and the National Shooting Sport Association of Thailand under Royal Patronage for welcoming the shooting sport family with open arms.” Mr. Grill continued. “You’ve worked hard to provide us with excellent conditions to conduct the competition, and I am sure that this will be a successful event. I wish all the participants a successful and fair World Cup!”

“We welcome over 330 athletes and 100 officials here in Thailand,” said the Deputy Governor of the Sports Authority of Thailand, Mr. Nattavuth Ruengves, during the ceremony, “we are grateful to the ISSF for entrusting us to host such an important competition in the Olympic year.”

“We feel honored to organize this event,” added Mr. Tawich Chinbancehon, the President of the National Shooting Sport Association of Thailand, “with the support of the ISSF, we tried to organize the best possible competition!”

The first two medal matches will take place tomorrow, when the 10m Air Rifle Men and the 10m Air Rifle Women finals will be conducted at 11.30 AM and at 1:30 PM (UTC+7), respectively.