Highest governing body | International Paralympic Committee |
---|---|
Nicknames | Shooting Para sports |
Characteristics | |
Mixed-sex | Yes |
Presence | |
World Championships | Yes |
Paralympic | Yes |
Paralympic shooting, also known as shooting Para sport (Para Shooting), is an adaptation of shooting sports for competitors with disabilities. Shooting is a test of accuracy and control, in which competitors use pistols or rifles to fire a series of shots at a stationary target. Each shot is worth a maximum score of 10.9 points. Athletes use .22 caliber rifles, pistols and .177 caliber air guns (compressed air or pneumatic). Paralympic shooting first appeared in the Summer Paralympics at the 1976 Toronto Games.
Competitions are open to all athletes with a physical disability. Shooting utilizes a functional classification system, [1] which enables wheelchair users and ambulant athletes from different disability classes to compete together either individually or in teams.
Athletes compete in rifle and pistol events from distances of 10, 25 and 50 meters, in men's, women's and mixed competitions. Of the 12 Paralympic Shooting events, six are open to both women and men, three are open to women only and three are open to men only.
The sport is governed by International Paralympic Committee (IPC) and co-ordinated by the World Shooting Para Sport Technical Committee following the modified rules of the International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF). These rules consider the differences that exist between shooting for the able-bodied and shooting for persons with a disability.
In November 2016, IPC changed the official name of the sport to "shooting Para sport", and renamed the coordinating committee from "IPC Shooting Sport Technical Committee" to reflect this change. [2]
Only SH1 and SH2 classes are represented in the Paralympic Games, based on World Shooting Para Sport Classification Rules and Regulations.
Sub-classifications A, B and C define wheelchair backrest height depending on back and pelvic strength per athlete.
Disabled shooters use the same firearms and clothing as able-bodied shooters. Adaptations are equipment specific :
The World Shooting Para Sport rules are adapted partially from ISSF rules. In 10m Air Rifle Prone and .22 Rifle Prone, slings are required for SH1 shooters while SH2 shooters are not allowed to use a sling. Ambulant and wheelchair users have very specific equipment instructions in the World Shooting Para Sport rulebook.
Both SH1 and SH2 class shooters use the following positions depending on event, with the 3-position (Standing, Kneeling, Prone) involving all three.
The Minimum Qualification Scores (MQS) for Regional and World Championships (MQS, 2012 LON Paralympic Games).
SH1 Class
Event | Discipline | Gender | MQS |
---|---|---|---|
R1 | 10m Air Rifle Standing | Men | 545 |
R2 | 10m Air Rifle Standing | Women | 355 |
R3 | 10m Air Rifle Prone | Mixed | 575 |
R6 | 50m Rifle Prone | Mixed | 560 |
R7 | 50m Rifle 3-position 3×40 | Men | 1060 |
R8 | 50m Rifle 3-position 3×20 | Women | 525 |
SH2 Class
Event | Discipline | Gender | MQS |
---|---|---|---|
R4 | 10m Air Rifle Standing | Mixed | 570 |
R5 | 10m Air Rifle Prone | Mixed | 575 |
R9 | 50m Prone Rifle | Mixed | 560 |
The Minimum Qualification Scores (MQS) for Regional and World Championships (MQS, 2012 LON Paralympic Games).
SH1 Class
Event | Discipline | Gender | |
---|---|---|---|
P1 | 10m Air Pistol | Men | 535 |
P2 | 10m Air Pistol | Women | 340 |
P3 | 25m Pistol | Mixed | 530 |
P4 | 50m Pistol | Mixed | 490 |
P5 | 10m Air Pistol Standard | Mixed | 310 |
"Co-ed" or "Mixed" male and female shooters compete together in certain events. Shooting is conducted in 2 stages: Qualification and Finals. In the 2013-2016 ISSF Rules, Air Rifle Prone (R3) and .22 Rifle Prone (R6) competitors for example, have unlimited sighters 15 minutes before the 60 competition shots due within 50 minutes. The new Finals are also conducted with the top 8 shooters starting from zero, with a focus on the decimal duel to clearly determine medal winners.
Minimum Qualification Scores (MQS) [3] prescribed by the Paralympic Games host country are participation criteria required for IPC recognized shooting competitions such as Regional and World Championships. Competitions are conducted under IPC Shooting/ISSF Rules and Regulations and IPC Shooting Classification Rules and Regulations.
The IPC World Cups held mostly in Europe and North America are well attended Paralympic Games qualifiers. The ASIAN Para Games, formerly known as the FESPIC Games and the Jikji Cup Asian Open Championships in Korea are the main Paralympic shooting events in Asia.
With the LON 2012 Paralympics over, ISSF introduced new rules [4] for 2013-2016 to make winners easier to identify as many shooters were easily achieving the maximum scores.
In January 2013, the new ISSF rules came into effect, initially with the more obvious changes:
Shooting teams around the globe now focus on decimal scoring trials in the qualification, not just the finals stage. Likewise, the Safety Flag RULE 6.2.2.2., [7] with a small ISSF flag on one end of a highly visible nylon line (such as from the whipper-snipper garden tool), inserted full length and out the other end of both rifles and pistols to visibly show that the firearms is unloaded and 'safe', are additional required safety equipment seeing action at the finals, as well as firearm control and while on standby at the firing point.
Shooting at the 2008 Summer Paralympics consisted of twelve events. The competition was held in the Beijing Shooting Range Hall from 7 September to 12 September.
Paralympic Shooting classification is the shooting classification in place for the Paralympic Games to help establish fair competition. Classification is governed by the International Paralympic Committee's IPC Shooting. While there are currently three classifications, there were originally five in international competitions. People with physical disabilities as defined by the International Paralympic Committee are eligible to compete.
SH1 is a Paralympic shooting classification.
SH2 is a Paralympic shooting classification.
Shooting at the 2012 Summer Paralympics consisted of twelve events. The competition was held in the Royal Artillery Barracks in Woolwich from 30 August to 6 September.
The Philippine National Shooting Association (PNSA) is the National Sports Association (NSA) governing shooting sports in the Philippines, covering both Olympic discipline shooting sports and non-Olympic shooting events like the bench rest or practical pistol. PNSA is the Philippine shooting sport NSA recognized by and a regular member of the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC), funded by the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC).
Norway competed at the 2016 Summer Paralympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, from 7 September to 18 September 2016. They won a total of eight medals; three gold, two silver and three bronze. Sarah Louise Rung led the team by winning five medals in swimming; two gold, one silver and two bronze.
France competed at the 2016 Summer Paralympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, from 7 September to 18 September 2016. The first places the team qualified were for four athletes in sailing events.
Germany competed at the 2016 Summer Paralympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, from 7 September to 18 September 2016. The first places the team qualified were for four athletes in sailing events. They also qualified athletes in archery, cycling, equestrian, paracanoeing, paratriathlon, rowing and wheelchair basketball.
Thailand competed at the 2016 Summer Paralympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, from 7 September to 18 September 2016.
Sweden is competed at the 2016 Summer Paralympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, from 7 September to 18 September 2016. They won ten medals; one gold, four silver and five bronze.
The World Shooting Para Sport Championships, originally known as the IPC Shooting World Championships, are the world championships for shooting where athletes with a disability compete. They are organised by the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) on a four year rotation with the Paralympic Games.
Iran competed at the 2016 Summer Paralympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, from 7 September to 18 September 2016.
The United Arab Emirates sent athletes to the 2016 Summer Paralympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, from 7 September to 18 September 2016.
China has qualified to send athletes to the 2016 Summer Paralympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, from 7 September to 18 September 2016. Sports China competed in include blind football, archery, boccia, cycling, goalball, judo, paracanoeing, sitting volleyball and wheelchair basketball.
Turkey has qualified to send athletes to the 2016 Summer Paralympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, from 7 September to 18 September 2016. Sports the country qualified to compete in include 5-a-side football, archery, goalball, and wheelchair basketball.
Slovenia competed at the 2016 Summer Paralympics in Rio de Janeiro, from 7 September to 18 September 2016. Sports they qualified athletes to compete at included shooting.
Qualification for shooting at the 2020 Summer Paralympics begins from 1 January 2019 to 21 June 2021. There were three events for male and female sports shooters and seven mixed events. There were a total of 154 athlete quotas.
Slovakia competed at the 2020 Summer Paralympics in Tokyo, Japan, from 24 August to 5 September 2021.
South Korea competed at the 2020 Summer Paralympics in Tokyo, Japan, from 24 August to 5 September 2021.