Chateauroux 2022: Twelve countries secure spot for Paris 2024

The biggest-ever World Shooting Para Sport World Cup ended in Chateauroux, France on Sunday (12 June) with 18 athletes from 12 countries securing a quota at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games.

A total of 270 athletes from 50 countries competed throughout the week in France.

The host nation led the way with three spots secured at the home Paralympics in two years from now: Jean-Louis Michaud in the R1 - men’s 10m air rifle standing SH1, Cedric Fevre in the R6 - mixed 50m rifle prone SH1, and Justine Beve in the R9 - mixed 50m rifle prone SH2.

China, Poland, and India impressed in Chateauroux, securing two quotas for the Paralympic Games each.

China in the P4 - mixed 50m pistol SH1 and in the R7 - men’s 50m rifle 3 positions; Poland in the P3 - mixed 25m pistol SH1 and in the R2 - women’s 10m air rifle standing SH1; and India in the R2 - women’s 10m air rifle standing SH1 and in the R4 - mixed 10m air rifle standing SH2.

Uzbekistan, Turkey, Hungary, Israel, Switzerland, Serbia, Slovakia, and Thailand all left Chateauroux with one quota each.

World record and second gold

In one of the most exciting sessions of the whole World Cup, Turkish Aysel Ozgan broke another world record in Chateauroux. Ozgan scored 240.0 points in the P2 - women’s 10m air pistol SH1 final, winning gold and beating the old record (239.2).

On the first day of the competition, Indian star Avani Lekhara had broken the world record in the R2 - women’s 10m air rifle standing SH2. Lekhara went back to the shooting range and managed to shine once again.

Shooting in the R8 - women’s 50m rifle 3 positions SH1, the Indian athlete did not break the world record this time but defeated Slovakia’s paralympic legend Varonika Vadovicova in the final. 

Lekhara scored 458.3 points, while Vadovicova finished with 456.6.

“I couldn’t be happier. I’m very emotional as I bring home the second gold medal of this World Cup,” celebrated the 20-year-old.

China tops the medals table

With 16 medals at the Chateauroux World Cup, China finished the competition at the top of the medals table. The Chinese delegation won a total of 16 medals, being ten gold medals, three silver medals, and three bronze medals.

India came second with 12 (six gold, five silver and one bronze), while France finished third with 11 (five gold, three silver and three bronze).

20 of the 50 countries competing reached at least one podium in Chateauroux. Complete results are available here.

The next World Cup is scheduled for 12 to 20 July in Munich, Germany.