PI SHOOTING ATHLETE ANDREI LEBEDINSKIY TAKES SILVER AT WORLD CUP STAGE IN CROATIA

It was Osiek’s (Croatia) turn to host PI Para Shooting World Cup from July 22 to 31.

Andrei Lebedinskiy from Khabarovsk Krai performed well enough to take second place in P3 bullseye category.

Another Russian, Alexander Litvinov from Novosibirsk, also participated in competitions.

Vladislav Lyashenko, Russian national PI shooting team head coach and professional athlete in the past, talked to us on the results:

 

The most important result from this World Cup stage for us is not earning medals, but rather a fulfillment of qualification criteria for participation in World Championships, which will be held later this year. We couldn’t dream of anything better, but both Andrei Lebedinskiy and Alexander Logutenko guaranteed World Championship slots in all events they have participated in here. To remind you, Andrei competed in handgun SH1 class events P1, P3 and P5; and Alexander participated in rifle SH2 class events R4, R5 and R9. In addition, most of our team members qualified for continental championships this May on international competition in Germany.

As of now, our main priority is preparation for World Championships in Sydney (9-19 October), since they are a direct qualification event for upcoming 2020 Paralympic Games in Tokyo

Bullseye PI Shooting was included into Paralympic program for 1976 Paralympic Games in Toronto. Several specific equipment is required to use for non-standing athletes—chairs (standing position), leaning tables (kneeling and prone positions). On international level, all competitions are organized by International Paralympic Committee (IPC) and use the modified rules of International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF). Competitions consist of 13 events, 7 in handgun and 6 in riffle categories. All shooting is done either with air guns, or small-calibre weapons from 10, 25 and 50 meters distance. Six events are designed only for men or women, and other seven—for both. Athletes are separated into two classes (SH1 and SH2). In qualification, athletes compete for top 8 in order to enter a final stage for medals. Winner of each event is determined by summing up earned points from the final stage. On XVI 2020 Tokyo Paralympic Games, PI Shooting athletes will compete for 13 medal sets.

Press-center of Russian Paralympic Committee