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The 2009 ISSF Shotgun World Championship kicked-off in Maribor, Slovenia, where about 600 shooters coming from 70 countries will compete from the 6th through the 17th of August at the Gaj shooting range.

The competitions start today with the Trap Men and Trap Junior Man matches. The first final round of the Championship, the Trap Men Final, will take place tomorrow, at 5.00 PM local time.

The ISSF Shotgun World Championship officially kicked-off from the opening ceremony, where the ISSF Secretary General Horst G. Schreiber welcomed the athletes along with the local sport and government authorities.

The Slovenian Minister of Defence, Mrs. Ljubica JELUSIC greeted the shooters in behalf of the Slovenian Prime Minister “It’s an honour to host such a prime competition here in Slovenia. – Said the Minister – Our country is going to be the centre of the shooting sport world in the next days. This competition is the highlight of a ten-year long work, and we hope you will bring back good memories of our country. We wish you all to reach successful results!”

“We expect that our shooters will perform an exciting competition, here in Maribor!” Said the ISSF Secretary General, Mr. Horst SCHREIBER, speaking from the stage of the opening ceremony “I am welcoming you all in behalf of our President, Mr. Olegario Vazquez Raña. Slovenia is a sport-loving country that reached five medals at the last Games, and it is an excellent location for our shooting sport championships. – Continued Mr. SCHREIBER. – We are going to have a wonderful competition. I wish good luck to our shooters for a fair competition!”

The organizer of this 2009 ISSF Shotgun World Championships, Mr. Igor RAKUSA, thanked the participating athletes, speaking about a dream that has came true. “Thank you for coming here! My dream to realize one of the top shotgun ranges of the world has come true. I have a new vision… – continued Mr. Rakusa – We are working to expand our sport centre, in order to offer Rifle and Pistol shooting facilities.”

The President of the Shooting Union of Slovenia, Mr. Gorazd MALOIC, greeted the competitors “It is great to have you here – said the President – Thanks to the ISSF for entrusting us of the organization of this Championships. We will do our best, and we are sure that also the athletes will try their best! I wish you the greatest success!”

The 2009 ISSF World Championship was officially opened by a speech of the Slovenian National Olympic Committee’s President, Mr. Janez KOCIJANCIC “Dear friends, welcome to our sport-loving country Slovenia – Mr. KOCIJANCIC said – I wish that the sport spirit will prevail, and that the best will win. The competition is officially open!”

Schedule

The ISSF World Cup in Shotgun events of San Marino is half the way through. The first three events, Skeet Men and Women and Double Trap, have taken place. The Trap Women and Men events will take place starting from tomorrow, June 22.

The intermediate medal standings:
Three nations are tied in the lead: the People’s Republic of China, Cyprus and Italy are leading the intermediate medal standings, with one Gold medal each.
Coming in next, the United States of America follows in fourth place, with one Silver and one Bronze medal.

The next medals:
The Next medals will be assigned tomorrow, June 22, at the Trap Women competition. The Final round is scheduled by 4.35 PM (San Marino Time, GMT +2).

Follow the match on issf-sports.org!

Medal Standings after three out of five events: