Alicante 2013: What to follow on day three

Rule changes could see a changing of the guard in the R7 (men's 50m rifle 3 positions) and New Zealander Michael Johnson will be looking to defend his world record in the R4 (mixed 10m air rifle standing SH2). 18 Oct 2013

17-time Paralympic champion Swede Jonas Jacobsson may face tough competition from Israel's Shaziri Doron in the R7 (men's 50m rifle three positions SH1).

ⒸIPC

By IPC

Conditions for Johnson at the World Cup event in Aylesbury, Great Britain in July were obviously perfect as he then broke the world record to become the current confirmed holder.

Editors note: This article has been amended due to to the competition schedule being finalised.

This time next week, the 2013 IPC Shooting European Championships will be in the third day of competition with four European titles in rifle and pistol events already awarded.

On day three, it will be the turn of New Zealand shooting legend and current world record holder in the R4 (mixed 10m air rifle standing SH2) Michael Johnson to come to the fore on the range in Alicante, Spain, and the day is headlined by the R7 (men's 50m rifle 3 positions SH1).

Wednesday, 23 October

R7 (men’s 50m rifle 3 positions SH1)

Qualification round - 08.45 - 11.45 (local time)

Final – 12.15 - 13.15pm (local time)

One of the most prolific shooters in history - 17-time Paralympic champion Swede Jonas Jacobsson - will be looking for another victory over Israel’s Shaziri Doron to add to his Paralympic gold and claim the European title in the R7.

Doron has a very interesting story, becoming a five-time Paralympian after stepping on a land mine whilst in patrol in Lebanon in the eighties. A silver medallist behind Jacobsson at London 2012, Doron has the potential to overtake his rival in Alicante.

France’s Cedric Fevre could have something to say about that as he looks to improve on his seventh place finish from the finals in London. German Josef Neumaier, a bronze medallist in the R1 (men’s 10m air rifle standing SH1) will be hot on their heels too.

This is only the second time this event will be conducted under new rules, and could see major changes in some of the leading athletes ahead of the 2014 IPC Shooting World Championships in Suhl, Germany.

R4 (mixed 10m air rifle standing SH2)

Relay one - 10.45 - 12.00 (local time)

Relay two – 12.45 - 14.15 (local time)

Final - 15.00 - 15.45pm (local time)

Michael Johnson will once again meet his rival from London 2012, Slovenian Tirsek Gorazd Francek, whom he tied with for the silver medal. Francek was the first to show his intentions this season back in April when he broke the world record at the 2013 IPC Shooting World Cup event in Szczecin, Poland. This was quickly broken by Dane Johnny Andersen at the same competition, and he will be joining the pair in Alicante.

Conditions for Johnson at the World Cup event in Aylesbury, Great Britain in July were obviously perfect as he then broke the world record to become the current confirmed holder.

In London Serbian Vidic Sinisa sneaked into bronze medal position following the tie between Johnson and Francek and he too will make the journey to Alicante. Aussie Jason Maroney rounds off the finallists from London who will be in Spain along with 44 other athletes, including R5 (mixed 10m air rifle prone SH2) Paralympic champion Vasyl Kovalchuk of Ukraine and local boy Juan Antonio Saavedra.

You can follow live results from the 2013 IPC Shooting European Championships, as well as updates and behind the scenes pictures through IPC Shooting on Twitter @IPCShooting and on Facebook.com/IPCShooting.