Iranians impress at IPC Shooting World Cup

Great Britain’s Richard Davies (209.0), a father of three, was also strong, beating Australia’s Bradley Mark (208.7) after a close R4 final which saw Davies just manage to edge ahead of Mark and Greece’s Evangelos Kakosaios (187.2).

Two Iranian pistol shooters beat Macedonian Paralympic champion Olivera Nakovska-Bikova to the P2 podium (women’s 10m air pistol SH1) in Szczecin, Poland, on Friday (9 May), claiming the top two spots at the second stage of the 2014 IPC Shooting World Cup.

Paralympic Bronze medallist Sareh Javanmardidodmani (194.5) eased to victory in the competition with teammate Alieh Mahmoudikordkheili (186.0) claiming the silver, as Nakovska-Bikova surprised the crowd by leaving the finals in eighth place, after qualifying in first position.

Turkey’s Aysel Ozgan (166.7) finished in third.

Speaking to Paralympic.org ahead of the competition, which ran from 8-11 May, 29-year-old Javanmardidodmani revealed her determination.

“I never think of the score,” she said. “I just focus on my technique, my calmness and my shot.”

There were two rifle gold medals for Great Britain in R4 (mixed 10m air rifle standing SH2) and R2 (women’s 10m air rifle standing SH1). Seven-time Paralympian Deanna Coates (201.7) claimed R2 victory over Slovakian European champion Veronika Vadovicova (201.4) – widely tipped as the next big name in shooting – as well as Turkey’s Suzan Cevik (181.6), who trains with her husband who is also a para-sport shooter.

Great Britain’s Richard Davies (209.0), a father of three, was also strong, beating Australia’s Bradley Mark (208.7) after a close R4 final which saw Davies just manage to edge ahead of Mark and Greece’s Evangelos Kakosaios (187.2).

Norway’s Paul Aksel Johansen’s impressive R3 (mixed 10m air rifle prone SH1) display led him to better the finals world record set less than a year ago at the 2013 IPC Shooting European Championships in Alicante, Spain. Johansen, a 2006 Paralympian in wheelchair curling, scored 211.9 to put himself ahead of Vadovicova (211.5) – the European silver medallist – and Dane Jens Frimann (189.2).

The P5 (mixed 10m air pistol SH1) and P1 (men’s 10m air pistol SH1) events saw two Russians claim gold and silver. Sochi 2014 torchbearer Andrey Lebedinskiy (367) beat European champion teammate Sergey Malyshev (366) with Hungarian Gyula Gurisatti (357) completing the P5 podium.

After not competing at the London 2012 Paralympics due to an inflammation of his elbow, Poland’s Filip Rodzik had told Paralympic.org his next goal was to win a medal at the World Cup in Szczecin on his home range.

He stuck to his word, doing just that.

In the P1 event, the host nation’s European champion Rodzik (173.8) claimed bronze behind Lebedinskiy (196.1) and Malyshev (193.2).

Serbian Laslo Suranji (204.5) held onto his form, winning R1 (men’s 10m air rifle standing SH1) gold to add to his European title. He was joined on the podium by another British shooter, Owen Burke (203.4), and Denmark’s Frimann (182.5) for his second medal of the competition.

Suranji’s teammate Dragan Ristic (212.1) was one of the most consistent high-scoring shooters in Szczecin, winning R5 (mixed 10m air rifle prone SH2), whilst seasoned New Zealander Michael Johnson (211.1) showed no sign of losing his touch with silver. Australian Mark (189.4) picked up his second medal of the competition in third.

The next 2014 IPC Shooting World Cup will take place in Fort Benning, Georgia in the USA, from 3-7 June, as athletes prepare for the 2014 IPC Shooting World Championships in Suhl, Germany, which run from 17-26 July and will feature around 250 athletes from 45 countries.