Bangkok, Oct 23 (IBNS): The 2012 ISSF Rifle & Pistol World Cup Final was officially opened in Bangkok, Thailand, on Tuesday, by General Yuthasak Sasiprapha, the Deputy Prime Minister and President of the National Olympic Committee of Thailand.
Only the top performers were chosen and invited here to compete in this Final. Ninety shooters coming from 34 countries around the world, were eligible to compete here: the 2012 Olympic Champions, the 2012 Olympic medallists, the ISSF World Cup title defenders and the best athletes selected throughout this year’s ISSF World Cup Series.
"In behalf of the Royal Thai Government, I would like to welcome you all to our country. We thank the ISSF for entrusting the National Shooting Sport Association of Thailand to organize this event." The Deputy Prime Minister said.
"We are honoured to host this year’s ISSF World Cup Final in Bangkok. We thank all the sportsman for coming to Thailand to compete in this very important match, and we wish you all success." he added.
"Thailand is a true home of the shooting sport, and we are always very happy to come back to Bangkok on this nice shooting venue." The ISSF Secretary General, Franz Schreiber said.
"We are at the end of a long and successful Olympic year. And I would like to tell you: be proud to be here! Only the best of the best athletes were invited to participate in this event, and you - our dear athletes - do represent the top class in our sport."
From Wednesday onwards, right up to Oct 27, they will compete in the 10 Olympic Rifle & Pistol events, trying to secure the ISSF Cups in the last international match of the year.
The first medal matches will be staged tomorrow, Oct 24, when the first three World Cup Final trophies will be assigned at the 50m Rifle Prone Men, at the 25m Pistol Women and at the 50m Pistol Men events.
