The International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) implemented the modification to make the sport simpler for spectators to watch and follow the action.
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The International Shooting Sports Federation (ISSF) has reverted to the old format in which the top scorer would earn the gold medal in pistol and rifle shooting competitions at the World Cups, including the Olympics. The new rule, which was introduced after the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games, required the two top scorers to compete separately for the gold medal in a final additional stage.
The ISSF, however, has now streamlined the scoring methodology and returned to the previous elimination method, where the athlete with the highest score would win the gold medal. The change will come into effect from the ISSF Pistol/Rifle World Cup to be held in Baku from May 8 to May 15. This format will also be followed during the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
The International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) implemented the modification to make the sport simpler for spectators to watch and follow the action. The eight finalists will play in two series of five match shots each in the new finals format, which will be followed by 14 single-match shots. Following the 12th shot, the shooter with the lowest score among the eight finalists is eliminated. The process is then repeated every two shots until the medalists are determined. The winner of the final will be determined when a total of 24 shots are fired.
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India’s rifle coach and high-performance manager, Deepak Dubey, said that the new ISSF rules had been conveyed to the pistol and rifle squad, and they would train for the World Cup in Baku keeping them in mind. He said, “These new changes are not technical in nature, so shooters are not required to make any major changes to their techniques. “
“Only a few changes here and there will be required in timing, which can be done easily, and we will be working on them during the national camp in Delhi later this month,” said Dubey. Dubey also added that he was confident that the team would be quite familiar with the new format ahead of the Baku World Cup. The team will be implementing the new format completely in the next set of national trials.
The ISSF has not made any changes to the qualification round, where the eight highest-scoring shooters make it to the finals. The changes made to the format of the final have simplified the scoring system. The new rule introduced after the Tokyo Olympics 2020 required the two highest-scoring shooters to compete once more for the gold medal where the shooter to reach 16 points quickest was declared the winner, while the second-best shooter won the silver. This system was being followed until the recently concluded ISSF Pistol/Rifle World Cup 2023 in Bhopal.
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