Belarus hosts World Cup Trap & Skeet shooting finals

The final stage of the World Cup Trap and Skeet Shooting Championship will be held in Minsk September 25 through October 1, Interfax-West has learnt from the Trap and Skeet Shooting Federation of Belarus (TSSFB). “That is one of the most prominent Type-A international trap and skeet shooting tournaments, with the pick of the world’s sharp-shooting community taking part – World Cup contest prizewinners, world champions and Olympic champions,” the federation representative explained. The shoot-up has drawn 58 participants from 18 countries of Europe, Asia, Australia and America. Standing on the preliminary start list is Beijing Olympic Champion Walton Eller of the United States, who set two Olympic double trap shooting records, Olympic skeet shooting champions Vincent Hancock (USA), David Kosteletsky (Czech Republic), gold-winners of the latest Olympics Chiara Cainero (Italy, skeet) and Satu Makela-Nummela (Finland, trap). Also, Beijing Olympic silver holders Tore Brovold (Norway), Zuzana Stefecekova (Slovakia), Kimberly Rhode (USA), Giovanni Pellielo (Italy). The biggest delegations are expected from the United States and China – 12 shooters each. There will be just one shooter to represent Belarus – TSSFB chairman Andrei Geraschenko, who will compete in the skeet shooting contest. “The fact that Belarus hosts such a prominent sporting event surely gives a powerful boost to the country’s international status and will contribute to the promotion of amateur sports and healthy lifestyles,” the federation said. “The World Cup finals is not just a large-scale sporting event, but a landmark event from the point of view of the country’s international image on the sports arena”, the Trap and Skeet Shooting Federation of Belarus believes. The tournament includes skeet, trap and double trap contests hosted by the Sporting Club of Minsk. The decision to hold the World Cup finals at the Olympics dedicated premises in Minsk was taken at a plenary session of the Executive Committee of the International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF). Alongside the World Cup Finals, on September 27-30, the Trap and Skeet Shooting Federation of Belarus conducts Belarus Cup Open annual shooting tournament, with top-notch shooters from Russia, Ukraine, Lithuania, Latvia and Belarus taking part.