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World Shooting Para-sport has welcomed a seventh sport class to its family with the addition of vision impaired (VI) shooting.
The news comes after the International Paralympic Committee’s (IPC) Governing Board officially approved the transfer of governance of VI shooting from the International Blind Sports Federation (IBSA) to World Shooting Para-sport.
VI events will first be contested at the International Shooting Competition of Hanover from 2-12 May in Germany. Athletes with a vision impairment will then have the opportunity to compete at the 2019 World Shooting Para-sport World Cup from 20-28 July in Osijek, Croatia, before taking the big stage at the 2019 World Shooting Para-sport World Championships from 9-10 October in Sydney, NSW.
Athletes with a vision impairment can now compete in air rifle events shot from 10m.
“We are thrilled to have vision impaired shooting join our family and open the door for more athletes to compete in our fantastic sport,” said World Shooting Para-sport’s Manager, Tyler Anderson.
“We thank IBSA and the many individuals who made this possible for their tremendous contributions, and we look forward to the first competition in Hanover.”
IBSA’s President, Jannie Hammershøi, said: “After a period of great work by World Shooting Para-sport, in collaboration with IBSA’s Shooting Committee, we are confident they have the resources and drive needed to take it forward as the specific global governing body.
“We are really happy to hand them the baton for this great sport of skill and accuracy, and appreciate their commitment to including athletes with visual impairments.
“IBSA will always be on hand to support with expertise, grass-roots development, and our specific – but wide – network. We are excited to see shooting go from strength to strength in the coming years.”
Ferrol van Hoeven, the World Shooting Para-sport Technical Committee’s Head of Technical, added: “The start of vision impaired shooting within World Shooting Para-sport is the result of teamwork and individual interest in our high-performing sport. When two sport organisations open the door for creative and dedicated solutions, you get the highest score.”
Athletes with a vision impairment use air rifles to fire a series of shots at a stationary target. Shooters use an audio signal to guide them in their aiming, with the audio signal rising in pitch as the point of aim moves nearer to the centre of the target.
By World Shooting Para-sport
Posted: 08/02/2019
