AL AIN 12 March 2018: The Al Ain 2018 World Shooting Para Sport World Cup will be held from 19th to 28th March at the Al Ain Equestrian, Shooting & Golf Club.
Organised by Zayed Higher Organisation (ZHO), Al Ain Equestrian, Shooting & Golf Club and World Shooting Para Sport, Shooting Para Sport will be returning to Al Ain for the third year in a row, this time will be the first ever combined World Cup of Rifle/Pistol/Shotgun, said Wam.
Abdullah Ismail Al Kamali, Chairman of the event higher organisng committee, and Head of Special Needs Sector at HZO, told a press conference today the event will witness more than 223 athletes (with range of physical and sensorial disabilities) from 41 different countries, who will compete against each other in different categories: Rifle and Pistol and the newly integrated Para-Trap. All participating athletes will be accompanied by their coaches, team leaders, and team officials.
The competition will be the first World Cup of the year and is a crucial opportunity for athletes to fine-tune themselves ahead of the 2018 World Shooting Para Sport Championships in Cheongju, South Korea. In particular, the 2018 Al Ain World Cup will be the last chance for shooters to earn valuable MQS (minimum qualifying score) points in 25m and 50m events towards the 2018 Worlds.
While athletes will focus on preparing for Cheongju, the World Cup is also a step forward in the development of Para trap, which was officially added to World Shooting Para Sport in May 2017. It will be the first competition to feature the shotgun discipline alongside rifle and pistol events.
Tyler Anderson, World Shooting Para Sport Manager, has said: “We are excited to return to the shooting ranges in Al Ain. The local organising committee did an excellent job hosting the World Cups the last two years, and I have no doubt they will give the athletes another fantastic experience as they gear up for the 2018 World Championships.
“We are especially thrilled to take advantage of Al Ain’s world-class shotgun range. With Para trap now part of the federation’s family, it is important we continue integrating the discipline into our events and give athletes as many opportunities to compete,” he said when the World Shooting Para Sport announced that Al Ain would host the World Cup 2018.