At the first World Cup after a one-year break because of Covid-19, men and women’s teams competed for medals in new Skeet finals.
The ISSF Secretary General Alexander Ratner said: “It’s a historical moment, the first time it’s a real team event. The ISSF tries to make our competitions more attractive for spectators, more understandable for all audiences, not only for experts. And to make it more interesting for participants, so that everybody can feel the drama."
The World Cup winner and the IOC member Danka Bartekova said: “From my perspective, the new team formats are a whole new competition. They reflect 3 days of shooting, team spirit of the whole group of shooters and will show how important is the stability of results and high quality of shooting. Every target counts. I understand the team formats were developed with the help of the Athletes Committee and that just shows how we all like challenging ourselves. I am excited to see how new formats will be welcomed by the audience and how they will move our sport forward”.
Teams from the Russian Federation made the most of the historic moment by winning both gold medals on offer: Alina FAZYLZYANOVA, Ziliya BATYRSHINA, and Natalia VINOGRADOVA prevailed in the Women’s Team Skeet competition, and Sergey DEMIN, Aleksey SKOROBOGATOV and Alexander ZEMLIN were on the top step of the podium in the Men’s Skeet Team event.
The Czech Republic took silver in both events: Anna SINDELAROVA, Barbora SUMOVA and Martina SKALITSA in Women’s Skeet Team, and Tomas NYDRLE, Milos SLAVICEK and Jakub TOMECEK in Men’s Skeet Team.
Kazakhstan took bronze in Women’s Team Skeet thanks to Olga PANARINA, Rinata Nasyrova and ORYNBAY Assem. Gurjoat KHANGURA, Ahmad KHAN and Angad Vir Singh BAJWA took India’s first medial in Cairo with the bronze in Men’s Skeet Team.
The Indian team athletes were enthusiastic about the new finals.
Angad Vir Singh BAJWA said: “It's very interesting, specially for spectators. It’s something like tennis with points system. It’s a good move of the ISSF to create an event like this. Before we were calculating individually. And it’s the first time when we compete as a team and play together as a country.”
GurjoatI KHANGURA also approved: “ I think it’s amazing and attractive spectacular event. It attracts more spectators and it provides a jump for a sport. Our sport will grow more and will attract more people.”
Mairaj Ahmad KHAN was enthusiastic: “Like this 9 athletes get a medal, not only 3 as in individual. And here 9 athletes can return home with a medal, especially with the ISSF medal - it counts a lot. An international medal always gives you the motivation to move forward in your career. I think it’s a fantastic job by the ISSF President Mr. Lisin to put this format into a program. I really want that someday this event will be presented in the Olympic program.”
In total about 200 athletes representing 33 nations are taking part in Cairo thanks to the efforts of the Organizing Committee to guarantee a safe holding of the tournament during the pandemic.