Javanmardidodmani to make season debut

Iranian world champion and world record holder Sareh Javanmardidodmani will take the first steps towards her Rio 2016 preparations this season at the IPC Shooting World Cup in Antalya, Turkey, from Tuesday (12 May).

Javanmardidodmani heads out in P2 (women’s 10m air pistol SH1) having set a new finals world record of 200.4 at October’s 2014 Incheon Asian Para Games on her way to gold. The win rounded off a great year for the 30-year-old who collected her first world title in the same event in Suhl, Germany.

Her main competition comes in the form of Azerbaijani European champion Yelena Taranova, who has already shown her form with a win at the season-opening World Cup in Stoke Mandeville, Great Britain, in March.

The P1 (men’s 10m air pistol SH1) event will see home shooter Cevat Karagol, a bronze medallist from Suhl 2014, go up against Serbia’s Rastko Jokic, a third-place finisher from the 2013 Euros.

Serbian athletes have made a name for themselves in recent years, winning multiple medals at major international competitions since the last Paralympic Games at London 2012.

Jokic’s teammate, R1 (men’s 10m air rifle standing SH1) European champion Laslo Suranji, will also make his 2015 debut alongside R5 (mixed 10m air rifle prone SH2) gold medallist Dragan Ristic.

Ristic also picked up a silver medal in the event at the Worlds last summer, but was beaten by Finland’s Minna Leinonen, who will be in action in Antalya.

Slovakian world and European champion Veronika Vadovicova has finished on the podium at both World Cups so far in 2015, winning R2 (women’s 10m air rifle standing SH1) gold and silver. Once again the hosts have podium potential in Worlds silver medallist Cagla Bas.

Vadovicova is also one to watch in R3 (mixed 10m air rifle prone SH1), having managed top three performances in Stoke Mandeville and Szczecin, Poland, including a new finals world record.

New Zealand’s R4 (mixed 10m air rifle standing SH2) London 2012 bronze medallist Michael Johnson enters his second World Cup of the year, following his victory in Szczecin.

Competition runs in Antalya until Friday (15 May), beginning with R3 on Tuesday.

Live results, provided by IPC Shooting Targets and Results System Provider Sius, will be available every day.