The ISSF World Cup lands in Malta for the very first time
The fifth stage of the 2018 ISSF World Cup Shooting Series will this time take place at the Malta National Shooting Ranges at Ta' Kandja, limits of Siggiewi.
More than 400 shooters will be in action, competing and representing 61 NOC's and piling up 478 starts.
After stopping in Guadalajara, Mexico, Changwon Korea, Fort Benning USA and Munich in Germany the 2018 ISSF World Cup Series is officially open in Siggiewi, marking the first ever ISSF Championship to be held in Malta.
The Competition will see 402 shooters from 61 nationa competing in the five Shotgun events - men's Trap and Skeet, women's Trap and Skeet, Trap Mixed Team - for a total of 478 starts.
This first-ever international shooting event will take place at the newly built Malta National Shooting Ranges.
The opening ceremony was conducted in front of a big audience, including some important personalities like Mr. Vladimir Lisin, Vice-President of the ISSF, Mr. Saviour Portelli, President of the Malta Shooting Sport Federation, and Dr. Clifton Grima, Parliamentary Secretary for Youth, Sport and Voluntary Organisations.
“I would like to welcome you all to our beautiful islands and to this fantastic, new shooting range,” said Mr. Portelli.
“Today it’s a historic first step for Malta. Even if we are focused on the current competition, in fact, we are already thinking about the future, when this venue will have the chance to host many more prestigious international championships,” added Mr. Lisin, who then officially declared the competition open.
The ceremony continued with more artistic exhibitions, and it concluded with a spectacular fireworks show.
The final stage of the 2018 ISSF World Cup Series will take place in Tucson (USA) from July 9th to July 19th, while an ISSF Junior World Cup is expected to take place in Suhl (GER) from June 22nd to June 29th.