First 2007 Rifle, Pistol World Cup, March 31 – April 8

[USA Shooting]

For Immediate Release
March 29, 2007

Olympic Medalists Matt Emmons, Michael Anti To Compete In First 2007 Rifle, Pistol World Cup, March 31 – April 8

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – U.S. Olympic gold medalist Matt Emmons (Fairbanks, Alaska) and silver medalist Maj. Mike Anti (Ft. Benning, Ga.) will lead a strong team of shooters for the USA into the first rifle/pistol International Shooting Sports Federation (ISSF) World Cup of the season starting this weekend in Ft. Benning, Ga., March 31 – April 8, 2007.

To date, 524 athletes from 65 nations have registered 878 competition entries to mark the largest shooting World Cup in a non-Olympic year to be held on U.S. soil. The event is free, open to the public, and will feature the world’s highest ranked rifle and pistol shooters.

“USA Shooting is proud to welcome the planet’s finest rifle and pistol athletes to Ft. Benning, Georgia, for the 2007 World Cup USA,” said Robert Mitchell, Chief Executive Officer of USA Shooting. “This level of competition signifies excellence, and with the Olympic Games just over a year away, there are still Olympic quota slots to be secured. This will be an exciting year, as each of the four stops along the World Cup series is critical toward achieving success in Beijing.”

Events like World Cup competitions offer participants a chance to qualify their nation for the Olympic Games by earning Olympic “quota” slots for top performances. Quotas can be earned in all of the Olympic disciplines at World Cup USA. Eligible for 28, Team USA can still capture 11 more.

World Cup USA Highlights:

* More than 70% of the world’s top rifle and pistol shooting categories are represented at World Cup USA, including nine of the top 10 athletes in the men’s rifle 50m prone discipline.


* The only missing prone shooter in the men’s top rankings is Naval Reservist Lt. Eric Uptagrafft (Spokane, Wash.) who is currently No. 9 in the world. He will miss most of the 2007 season, as he is currently deployed as a member of the U.S. Armed Forces in Iraq.

* Ranked No. 4 in the ISSF top 10 men’s 50m prone shooters is World Cup Finals silver medalist SFC Tom Tamas (Columbus, Ga.) who will be on the firing line in Ft. Benning. Most recently, he defeated the No. 1 and No. 2 ranked shooters from Russia at the U.S. Rocky Mountain Championships.


* Olympic Training Center resident athlete Jamie Beyerle (Lebanon, Pa.) is the highest ranked female shooter in the United States. She currently holds No. 6 in women’s three-position rifle heading into the 2007 World Cup season.


* Seven athletes competing in World Cup USA hold the No. 1 world ranking, with four traveling from China and three from Russia.


* Chinese athletes have a grip on the air rifle competition for both men and women. No. 1 women’s air rifle Li Du of China will compete at World Cup USA, as will No. 1 men’s air rifle shooter Qinan Zhu.


* Russians represent the top two 50m three-position rifle shooters in the world, and both Artem Khadjibekov (No. 1) and Sergei Kovalenko (No. 2) will compete at World Cup USA. Additionally, Team Russia holds the highest ranking in both the men’s 10m air pistol and the men’s 50m pistol events.


* U.S. Olympian Matt Emmons is ranked No. 9 in the world in men’s three-position, and is considered the shooter to defeat heading into Beijing 2008.


* Heather Deppe (San Antonio, Texas), 16, is one of America’s brightest rising stars. Still riding high from her 2007 Junior Olympic victories, events like World Cup USA continue to develop the phenom into an Olympic caliber pistol shooter.


* USA Shooting will host a special “Media Day At Pool Range” on March 30, 2006 to give hometown outlets insight into the sport and give journalists access to trying their hand at shooting air rifle, air pistol and smallbore (.22 caliber) rifle. (See schedule below)

[Tim B.]

It will be nice to see scores too..... After all!
Thank you!

[shadow]

Will the World Cup be covered on TV?

[JulianY]

Will the World Cup be covered on TV?

ISSF.tv Perhaps?

JY

[Tom B.]

"BREAKING NEWS: Men's, Women's Air Pistol Athletes Out Of Contention At World Cup USA...."
What is wrong with their Air Pistols?

[Shin]

"BREAKING NEWS: Men's, Women's Air Pistol Athletes Out Of Contention At World Cup USA...."
What is wrong with their Air Pistols?

Stop doing that! - This is second warning...