Changwon Worlds, Asian Para Games and Al Ain World Cup to launch LA28 qualification

Three major World Shooting Para Sport (WSPS) events in 2026 will open the qualification pathway to the Los Angeles 2028 Paralympic Games. 

The road to LA28 begins at this year’s WSPS World Championships in Changwon, South Korea, followed by the Asian Para Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, and the Al Ain WSPS World Cup in the United Arab Emirates. 

The LA28 shooting Para sport programme features 13 medal events: three men’s events, three women’s events and seven open events. A total of 150 quota places will be available for the next Paralympics (75 male, 60 female and 15 gender-free). 

Qualification slots are allocated to National Paralympic Committees (NPCs), not to individual athletes, and each athlete may earn only one slot for their NPC. Direct slots may be gender-specific or gender-free and qualify the NPC for entry in the medal event in which the slot was obtained.

A direct slot can only be earned if the athlete’s result at the Qualification Competition meets or exceeds the Minimum Qualification Standard (MQS) for that medal event.

Changwon 2026 WSPS Worlds

The Changwon 2026 WSPS World Championships will take place from 10 to 15 September and award 24 qualification slots: 13 male and 11 female. 

RIFLE

R1 and R2: Top two ranked athletes (not otherwise qualified) in each medal event earn one slot for their NPC.

R3, R4, R5, R6 and R9: First-ranked male and first-ranked female athletes (not otherwise qualified) in each medal event earn one slot for their NPC.

R7 and R8: Top two ranked athletes (not otherwise qualified) in each medal event earn one slot for their NPC.

PISTOL

P1: Top two ranked athletes (not otherwise qualified) earn one slot for their NPC.

P2: First-ranked athlete (not otherwise qualified) earns one slot for their NPC.

P3: First-ranked male and first-ranked female athletes (not otherwise qualified) earn one slot for their NPC.

P4: First-ranked male athlete (not otherwise qualified) earns one slot for their NPC.

Asian Para Games

The second qualification opportunity of the season will be the Aichi-Nagoya 2026 Asian Para Games from 16-24 October, offering 11 slots: four male, four female athletes, and three gender-free. 

RIFLE

R1 and R2: First-ranked athlete (not otherwise qualified) in each medal event earns one slot for their NPC.

R3 and R6: First-ranked athlete regardless of gender (not otherwise qualified) earns one slot for their NPC.

R5: First-ranked male athlete (not otherwise qualified) earns one slot for their NPC.

PISTOL

P1 and P2: First-ranked athlete (not otherwise qualified) in each medal event earns one slot for their NPC.

P3: First-ranked athlete regardless of gender (not otherwise qualified) earns one slot for their NPC.

P4: First-ranked male and first-ranked female athletes (not otherwise qualified) earn one slot for their NPC.

Al Ain 2026 WSPS World Cup

The final WSPS event of the 2026 season will be held in UAE from 10 to 18 December and award 19 qualification slots: 11 male and 8 female.

RIFLE

R1 and R2: First-ranked athlete (not otherwise qualified) in each medal event earns one slot for their NPC.

R3, R4 and R5: First-ranked male and first-ranked female athletes (not otherwise qualified) in each medal event earn one slot for their NPC.

R6: First-ranked male athlete (not otherwise qualified) earns one slot for their NPC.

R7 and R8: First-ranked athlete (not otherwise qualified) in each medal event earns one slot for their NPC.

R9: Top two ranked male athletes (not otherwise qualified) earn one slot each for their NPC.

PISTOL

P1 and P2: First-ranked athlete (not otherwise qualified) in each medal event earns one slot for their NPC.

P3 and P4: First-ranked male and first-ranked female athletes (not otherwise qualified) in each medal event earn one slot for their NPC.

Complete LA28 qualification criteria can be found on the IPC website: https://www.paralympic.org/la-2028/qualification-regulations