McKenna to debut at Grand Prix in Szczecin

The first ever World Shooting Para sport Grand Prix will see more than 100 athletes from 25 countries gather in Szczecin, Poland, from Wednesday (26 April).

Live results will be available throughout the competition, which runs until 29 April, at World Shooting Para Sport’s website.

The Grand Prix will feature only air events, and will see the season debuts of Rio 2016 Paralympic medallists, including the USA’s McKenna Dahl. Dahl made history last September when she became the first female shooter from her country to win a Paralympic medal. In Szczecin, the 20-year-old will take on the R4 (mixed 10m air rifle standing SH2) and especially the R5 (mixed 10m air rifle prone SH2), in which she took Paralympic bronze.

Ukrainian Rio 2016 silver medallist Olga Kovalchuk will also make her first appearance in 2017, as she highlights the P2 (women’s 10m air pistol SH1).

Many shooters are also coming off the heels of success from the season-opening World Cup that was held in Al Ain, United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Slovakia’s Veronika Vadovicova is riding momentum after bagging four gold medals on her season debut in February. She will take on the R2 (women’s 10m air rifle standing SH1) and R3 (mixed 10m air rifle prone SH1) – both in which she holds the Paralympic titles.

Germany’s Natascha Hiltrop however will get another chance to challenge the Slovakian star after their duel in Al Ain. The 24-year-old had a solid season debut, taking three podium finishes but was mostly beaten by Vadovicova.

Paralympic silver medallist Abdulla Sultan Alaryani is one to watch in the R1 (men’s 10m air rifle standing SH1). He too had a successful showing at his home World Cup that saw him claim three medals.

Eyes will also be on Ukraine’s Oleksii Denysiuk. Having entered the sport’s scene only last season, Denysiuk started the season strong in Al Ain where he captured three medals, including two golds. The Rio 2016 bronze medallist will continue his second full season in the sport in Szczecin in the P5 (mixed air pistol standard SH1) and P1 (men’s 10m air pistol SH1).

Competition gets underway with R3 and P2on Wednesday.

Follow live updates at World Shooting Para Sport’s Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.