R9 included in Tokyo 2020 programme

“This announcement is a positive step forward for our sport"

The inclusion of R9 (mixed 50m rifle prone SH2) in the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games programme has come just in time for this month’s World Para Shooting Sport World Cup in Osijek, Croatia.

The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) announced the final medal event programme for Tokyo 2020 in early September, with shooting among the sports to receive more medal events. The upcoming Osijek World Cup, which begins Friday (22 September), will be the first competition for athletes to take part in the rifle event since the IPC approved the Tokyo 2020 programme.

World Shooting Para Sport Manager Tyler Anderson said: “This announcement is a positive step forward for our sport. We are thankful for the hard work of many to make this happen; it was truly a team effort.

“We are thrilled to have R9 on the programme after failed attempts to add it previously. R9 is an SH2 event. There were previously only two SH2 events both at 10m. The new R9 event adds 50m [smallbore] shooting for these athletes.

“Overall, it has been a great year for shooting Para sport with the addition of Para trap to our family. Our sport is growing more and more.”

R9 has been a part of the World Shooting Para Sport programme for more than 15 years, including four World Championships since 2002, as well as two regional Championships.

At the 2014 World Championships, 19 athletes competed in the event. More than 50 athletes competed in each of the other two SH2 events (R4 and R5), which were the third and fourth most contested events at the Championships.

“With the inclusion of the R9 discipline for SH2 athletes at Tokyo 2020, we would like to see the participation grow toward that of the R4 and R5 disciplines,” Anderson said. “This in turn would help our athletes, our sport and the Paralympic Movement.”