Lonato 2018: All you need to know

Lonato del Garda, Italy, will host the first World Shooting Para Sport Para Trap Championships in one week’s time (5-6 October).

Para trap was officially adopted as a discipline by World Shooting Para Sport in May 2017 and the Italian city hosted the first World Cup in September last year.

The competition is based on the Olympic trap discipline. Athletes use a shotgun to hit 'clays' which are propelled into the air from machines on the ground. Shooters strive to make as many 'hits' (when a clay is broken) as possible.

Through the competition, athletes shoot from across 5 central positions on the range. Athletes shoot at 125 clays in the qualification round.

Here is all you need to know about the World Championships.

Where is it going to take place?

Lonato Del Garda is located in the middle of northern Italy, about halfway between Milan and Venice, on the southwest shore of Lake Garda, the largest lake in Italy.

What about the venue?

Trap Concaverde was founded in June 1982 after four friends, tired of travelling around the country, decided to build their own range.

Over the years, the venue has become one of the largest facilities in the world and now it will host the first Para Trap World Championships.

How many shooters and countries will compete?

There will be 57 athletes from 16 nations in Lonato. Hosts Italy have the biggest team (15 shooters) followed by Great Britain (11).

How many events will be part of the Worlds?

There will be six events with mixed individual and team competitions in PT1, PT2 and PT3 classes.

PT1 is for shooters competing from a wheelchair in a standard seated position (SG-S). PT2 is for athletes competing in a standing position with an impairment in the lower limb (SG-L).

Athletes in the PT3 events compete from a standing position. Shooters have an impairment in the non-shooting arm (SG-U).

Who are the biggest names in the competition?

The three winners of the first World Cup in Lonato last year are back for the World Championships.

Italy’s Saverio Cuciti took gold in the PT2 in 2017 followed by countryman Alessandro Spagnoli.

Spain’s Meliton Antonio Brinas Mora was the champion in the PT3 trap standing in 2017 ahead of Italy’s Francesco Nespeca.

Iran’s Abdolreza Tavasolikhah is one of the favourites in the PT1 trap seated mixed event. He won the competition in last year’s World Cup ahead of Great Britain’s Matthew Goodwin.

Anything else I should know?

The World Championships finals on 6 October will be livestreamed on the World Shooting Para Sport website and Facebook page.