Azernews.Az

By Nigar Orujova

Azerbaijani northern city of Gabala is hosting the 2014 International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) World Cup final.

The opening ceremony was held with the participation of Tale Heydarov, President of Gabala Sports Club, Chingiz Huseynzade, Vice President of the National Olympic Committee, Ismayil Ismayilov, Deputy Minister of Youth and Sports, and Franz Schreiber, ISSF Secretary General on October 22.

During the ceremony, they spoke about the works done in Azerbaijan to strengthen the material and technical base of the sports and the successes achieved in this field. They also wished bright victories for the competitors.

The ISSF World Cup consists of seven rounds. Earlier rounds were held during in the U.S., Germany, Spain, Slovenia, and Kazakhstan. Through these landmark events, the shooters fought for the right to participate in the final stage of the World Cup 2014 in Gabala.

The ISSF World Cup Final is the most important sport event after the World Cup and Europe Cup. The competition will be broadcasted by the official channel of the ISSF on October 23-27.

The final tournament is co-organized by Gabala Shooting Club, National Shooting Federation and supported by the National Olympic Committee, Youth and Sports Ministry and the International Shooting Sport Federation.

The competition started with the women's 10m air rifle final, and will close with the men's skeet on October 27.

About 280 of best shooters of the world will compete for the main title in the Olympic disciplines of the pistol and shotgun shooting.

Azerbaijan will be represent by Nurlana Jafarova, Emin Jafarov in shotgun shooting, and Irada Ashumova, Ruslan Lunev in pistol shooting.

During the tournament, the shooting club will host some 500 representatives of sports delegations from 40 countries, including President of ISSF Olegario Vazquez Rana, President of the European Confederation Vladimir Lisin.

Earlier, Gabala Shooting Club hosted the International Grand Prix Shotgun. The club will also host World Cup in 2015, where the Olympic licenses will be issued.

Featuring all of the 15 Olympic shooting events, the ISSF WCF takes place every year as a conclusion to the season's World Cup Series, which works as a qualifying round.

The first eight athletes in each event at the ISSF World Cup Series will enter the WCF with a maximum of two athletes from each nation for each event. Title Defenders, Olympic and World Championship medalists are also taking part in the competition.