The World Shooting Para Sport (WSPS) World Cup Novi Sad 2026 delivered an outstanding start to the new international season, as 291 athletes from 51 nations produced world-class performances in Serbia.
Serving as an important milestone on the road to the 2026 World Shooting Para Sport Championships in Changwon, the competition brought together many of the world's leading Paralympic medallists alongside the sport's next generation of talent. Across six days of competition, athletes contested rifle, pistol and vision impaired events, with several world records falling and a number of emerging names making their mark on the international stage.
Serving as an important milestone on the road to the 2026 World Shooting Para Sport Championships in Changwon, the competition brought together many of the world's leading Paralympic medallists alongside the sport's next generation of talent. Across six days of competition, athletes contested rifle, pistol and vision impaired events, with several world records falling and a number of emerging names making their mark on the international stage.
@ Ryan Hills / WSPSRecords rewritten in Novi Sad
The opening World Cup of the season saw athletes push the limits of performance, with five World Records established across individual and team events.
Sweden's Anna Benson set the tone early in the championships by winning the R8 – Women's 50m Rifle 3 Positions SH1 title with a new World Record of 356.0. Despite two 9.8s in her final three shots, Benson responded with a 10.5 on her final shot to secure victory ahead of Poland's Emilia Babska, while Paralympic champions Natascha Hiltrop of Germany and Zhang Cuiping of China finished third and fourth respectively.
Benson continued her impressive campaign by adding silver in the R2 – Women's 10m Air Rifle Standing SH1, where Ukraine's Iryna Saltykova claimed gold after a composed finish that included scores of 10.6 and 10.5.
Another memorable performance came from Csaba Rescsik of Hungary. The 22-year-old produced a remarkable display in the R7 – Men's 50m Rifle 3 Positions SH1, setting a new World Record of 353.8 after finishing with five consecutive shots of 10.0 or higher, including two perfect 10.7s. His performance earned him gold ahead of France's Jean-Louis Michaud and China's Dong Chao.
The opening World Cup of the season saw athletes push the limits of performance, with five World Records established across individual and team events.
Sweden's Anna Benson set the tone early in the championships by winning the R8 – Women's 50m Rifle 3 Positions SH1 title with a new World Record of 356.0. Despite two 9.8s in her final three shots, Benson responded with a 10.5 on her final shot to secure victory ahead of Poland's Emilia Babska, while Paralympic champions Natascha Hiltrop of Germany and Zhang Cuiping of China finished third and fourth respectively.
Benson continued her impressive campaign by adding silver in the R2 – Women's 10m Air Rifle Standing SH1, where Ukraine's Iryna Saltykova claimed gold after a composed finish that included scores of 10.6 and 10.5.
Another memorable performance came from Csaba Rescsik of Hungary. The 22-year-old produced a remarkable display in the R7 – Men's 50m Rifle 3 Positions SH1, setting a new World Record of 353.8 after finishing with five consecutive shots of 10.0 or higher, including two perfect 10.7s. His performance earned him gold ahead of France's Jean-Louis Michaud and China's Dong Chao.
@ Ryan Hills / WSPSTeam events deliver more history
The team competitions proved equally spectacular, with three additional World Records established.
Slovakia's legendary Veronika Vadovicova joined forces with Radoslav Malenovsky to win the R10 – Mixed Team 10m Air Rifle Prone SH1, setting a World Record of 507.6. China, represented by Paralympic champions Zhang Cuiping and Dong Chao, secured the silver medal.
Iran's Sareh Javanmardi, one of the most successful Paralympic pistol athletes in history, partnered with Ali Galavi to establish a World Record of 465.0 while claiming gold in the P6 – Mixed Team 10m Air Pistol SH1, defeating India's Rubina Francis and Manish Narwal in the final.
Italy completed the record-breaking performances as Pamela Novaglio and Gianluca Iacus won the R11 – Mixed Team 10m Air Rifle Prone SH2 with a new World Record score of 552.2.
The team competitions proved equally spectacular, with three additional World Records established.
Slovakia's legendary Veronika Vadovicova joined forces with Radoslav Malenovsky to win the R10 – Mixed Team 10m Air Rifle Prone SH1, setting a World Record of 507.6. China, represented by Paralympic champions Zhang Cuiping and Dong Chao, secured the silver medal.
Iran's Sareh Javanmardi, one of the most successful Paralympic pistol athletes in history, partnered with Ali Galavi to establish a World Record of 465.0 while claiming gold in the P6 – Mixed Team 10m Air Pistol SH1, defeating India's Rubina Francis and Manish Narwal in the final.
Italy completed the record-breaking performances as Pamela Novaglio and Gianluca Iacus won the R11 – Mixed Team 10m Air Rifle Prone SH2 with a new World Record score of 552.2.
@ Ryan Hills / WSPSParalympic champions return in style
Many of the sport's biggest names opened their 2026 season with podium finishes.
Host nation favourite Dragan Ristic, the reigning Paralympic champion, delighted the Serbian crowd by winning gold in the R9 – Mixed 50m Rifle Prone SH2.
Slovakia's Veronika Vadovicova added an individual gold medal in the R3 – Mixed 10m Air Rifle Prone SH1, narrowly missing her own world record with a winning score of 255.5.
Ukraine's Vasyl Kovalchuk, a two-time Paralympic champion, topped the podium in the R5 – Mixed 10m Air Rifle Prone SH2, while Korea's Seo Huntae claimed victory in the R4 – Mixed 10m Air Rifle Standing SH2.
Many of the sport's biggest names opened their 2026 season with podium finishes.
Host nation favourite Dragan Ristic, the reigning Paralympic champion, delighted the Serbian crowd by winning gold in the R9 – Mixed 50m Rifle Prone SH2.
Slovakia's Veronika Vadovicova added an individual gold medal in the R3 – Mixed 10m Air Rifle Prone SH1, narrowly missing her own world record with a winning score of 255.5.
Ukraine's Vasyl Kovalchuk, a two-time Paralympic champion, topped the podium in the R5 – Mixed 10m Air Rifle Prone SH2, while Korea's Seo Huntae claimed victory in the R4 – Mixed 10m Air Rifle Standing SH2.
@ Ryan Hills / WSPSNew generation makes its mark
Alongside the established stars, Novi Sad showcased the emergence of several new talents.
Kazakhstan's Alexandr Paskhalidi claimed gold in the P1 – Men's 10m Air Pistol SH1, edging India's Paralympic champion Manish Narwal in a closely fought final.
Uzbekistan celebrated one of the biggest surprises of the championships as Shakhnoza Mamajonova captured the P2 – Women's 10m Air Pistol SH1 title ahead of Paralympic champions Sareh Javanmardi and Aysel Ozgan.
Türkiye's Muharrem Korhan Yamac also impressed, winning the P3 – Mixed 25m Pistol SH1, while Azerbaijan's Kamran Zeynalov secured a notable victory in the P4 – Mixed 50m Pistol SH1, finishing ahead of Korea's Jo Jeongdu and China's Yang Chao.
Alongside the established stars, Novi Sad showcased the emergence of several new talents.
Kazakhstan's Alexandr Paskhalidi claimed gold in the P1 – Men's 10m Air Pistol SH1, edging India's Paralympic champion Manish Narwal in a closely fought final.
Uzbekistan celebrated one of the biggest surprises of the championships as Shakhnoza Mamajonova captured the P2 – Women's 10m Air Pistol SH1 title ahead of Paralympic champions Sareh Javanmardi and Aysel Ozgan.
Türkiye's Muharrem Korhan Yamac also impressed, winning the P3 – Mixed 25m Pistol SH1, while Azerbaijan's Kamran Zeynalov secured a notable victory in the P4 – Mixed 50m Pistol SH1, finishing ahead of Korea's Jo Jeongdu and China's Yang Chao.
@ Ryan Hills / WSPSAttention turns to Changwon
With five World Records, thrilling finals and a strong blend of experienced champions and emerging athletes, the WSPS World Cup Novi Sad 2026 provided an excellent start to the international season.
The performances in Serbia have offered an early indication of the level expected later this year at the World Shooting Para Sport Championships in Changwon, where the world's best Para shooters will once again compete for global titles.
With five World Records, thrilling finals and a strong blend of experienced champions and emerging athletes, the WSPS World Cup Novi Sad 2026 provided an excellent start to the international season.
The performances in Serbia have offered an early indication of the level expected later this year at the World Shooting Para Sport Championships in Changwon, where the world's best Para shooters will once again compete for global titles.