SSP 'Tanker' Hamid in Elite Jury Panel of ISSF World Cup
Former Sri Lanka, Police SC and Zahira College Rugby player, Ibrahim ' Tanker' Hamid has received the rare honour of officiating at t he forthcoming International Sports Shooting Federation ( ISSF) Rifle and Pistol World Cup in New Delhi, India, from February 20-28.
Rifle & Pistol Shooting, an Olympic sport in which Sri Lanka has the potential to win international medals, is progressing gradually here, with a strong commitment by the National Shooting Sports Federation of Sri Lanka (NSSF) officials. The NSSF has not only focused on its shooters, but are keen on the progress of other aspects of the sport.
With that prospect in line, veteran Hamid has been honoured with the invitation to join the Elite Panel of the Jury for Rifle and Pistol for the ISSF World Cup.
"The ISSF is the world governing body for Olympic Shooting and conducts several World Cup competitions in various countries for the best Shooters to qualify for participation at the Olympic Games, by reaching the ISSF designated Minimum Qualifying Score (MQS). The MQS must be achieved at these designated World Cups and Continental Games only. In view of the importance of these events, only the World's best are invited to be in the Elite Panel of Jurors for Rifle & Pistol, to ensure a very high standard of adjudication. "I'm proud and honoured to be a part of it," Hamid said.
Hamid, an active promoter of Shooting sports among schools, was in the Panel of Jury at the last Asian Games in Jakarta, Indonesia, where he served with distinction, and the present invitation is a reflection of the esteem in which he is held within the International Shooting Sport and the ISSF.
ISSF Rifle Shooting was among the very first in sports to stipulate qualifying standards for Olympic participation, ensuring that only the cream of the international Shooters vie for honours. Hamid fondly known as, ' Tanker' for his barging rushes like a Battle Tank on the Rugby field, captained the Police with distinction. An expert with the Pistol, he was specially trained in the VVIP Security.
Having excelled in Jury duties in many international competitions worldwide, he is one of the very few in Sri Lanka, qualified in Electronic Scoring Targets ( EST) systems, which is the only system approved and used at the highest levels.
A strict disciplinarian, he is a Life Member of Sri Lanka Rugby, and is the Chairman of its Disciplinary Committee. In Shooting he heads the Judges Committee of the NSSF, a post he has held for several years, contributing much to the development and adjudication of Shooting sports.
Hamid stressed that, the invitation for the ISSF Rifle and Pistol World Cup, is a great honour for Shooting sports in Sri Lanka, and shows the high esteem the ISSF has for the country.