Paralympic shooting

Paralympic shooting, also known as shooting Para sport (Para Shooting), is an adaptation of shooting sports for competitors with disabilities. Shooting is a test of accuracy and control, in which competitors use pistols or rifles to fire a series of shots at a stationary target. Each shot is worth a maximum score of 10.9 points. Athletes use .22 caliber rifles, pistols and .177 caliber air guns (compressed air or pneumatic). Paralympic shooting first appeared in the Summer Paralympics at the 1976 Toronto Games.

Competitions are open to all athletes with a physical disability. Shooting utilizes a functional classification system,^[1] which enables wheelchair users and ambulant athletes from different disability classes to compete together either individually or in teams.

Athletes compete in rifle and pistol events from distances of 10, 25 and 50 meters, in men's, women's and mixed competitions. Of the 12 Paralympic Shooting events, six are open to both women and men, three are open to women only and three are open to men only.

The sport is governed by International Paralympic Committee (IPC) and co-ordinated by the World Shooting Para Sport Technical Committee following the modified rules of the International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF). These rules consider the differences that exist between shooting for the able-bodied and shooting for persons with a disability.

In November 2016, IPC changed the official name of the sport to "shooting Para sport", and renamed the coordinating committee from "IPC Shooting Sport Technical Committee" to reflect this change.^[2]

Only SH1 and SH2 classes are represented in the Paralympic Games, based on World Shooting Para Sport Classification Rules and Regulations.

• SH1 – Shooters able to support a firearm without a stand
• SH2 – Shooters requiring a firearm support to shoot
• SH3 – Blind Shooters (sights seek sound-emitting targets)

Sub-classifications A, B and C define wheelchair backrest height depending on back and pelvic strength per athlete.

Disabled shooters use the same firearms and clothing as able-bodied shooters. Adaptations are equipment specific :

• Separate shooting table for ambulant competitors or integrated table for wheelchair users in prone or 3-position events.
• Shooting chair for ambulant competitors or wheelchair for users in prone or 3-position events.
• Shooting jacket shortened for seated competitors - jacket edge terminate atop shooters' thighs when seated.
• Rifle stand with spring tension dependent SH2 shooter's degree of ability to support a rifle.

The World Shooting Para Sport rules are adapted partially from ISSF rules. In 10m Air Rifle Prone and .22 Rifle Prone, slings are required for SH1 shooters while SH2 shooters are not allowed to use a sling. Ambulant and wheelchair users have very specific equipment instructions in the World Shooting Para Sport rulebook.

Both SH1 and SH2 class shooters use the following positions depending on event, with the 3-position (Standing, Kneeling, Prone) involving all three.

• Standing (standing or seated, shooting table support not allowed)
• Kneeling (Seated, single elbow support on shooting table plus use of a sling)
• Prone (Seated or prone, both elbows supported atop a shooting table plus use of a sling)

The Minimum Qualification Scores (MQS) for Regional and World Championships (MQS, 2012 LON Paralympic Games).

SH1 Class

SH2 Class

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  Para shooting with a rifle sitting in a wheelchair.
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The Minimum Qualification Scores (MQS) for Regional and World Championships (MQS, 2012 LON Paralympic Games).

SH1 Class

"Co-ed" or "Mixed" male and female shooters compete together in certain events. Shooting is conducted in 2 stages: Qualification and Finals. In the 2013-2016 ISSF Rules, Air Rifle Prone (R3) and .22 Rifle Prone (R6) competitors for example, have unlimited sighters 15 minutes before the 60 competition shots due within 50 minutes. The new Finals are also conducted with the top 8 shooters starting from zero, with a focus on the decimal duel to clearly determine medal winners.

Minimum Qualification Scores (MQS)^[3] prescribed by the Paralympic Games host country are participation criteria required for IPC recognized shooting competitions such as Regional and World Championships. Competitions are conducted under IPC Shooting/ISSF Rules and Regulations and IPC Shooting Classification Rules and Regulations.

The IPC World Cups held mostly in Europe and North America are well attended Paralympic Games qualifiers. The ASIAN Para Games, formerly known as the FESPIC Games and the Jikji Cup Asian Open Championships in Korea are the main Paralympic shooting events in Asia.

With the LON 2012 Paralympics over, ISSF introduced new rules ^[4] for 2013-2016 to make winners easier to identify as many shooters were easily achieving the maximum scores.

" Se confirma oficialmente que IPC Shooting se adherirá ^{[ 5 ]} a todos los cambios introducidos en la edición de 2013 del reglamento de la ISSF, incluidos los cambios en el formato de las finales y la prueba del sistema de puntuación decimal. Esta decisión se tomó de conformidad con el Memorando de Entendimiento (firmado en 2010) entre la ISSF e IPC Shooting, y tras una seria consideración del futuro desarrollo de nuestro deporte. La decisión ha sido aprobada por la Junta Directiva de IPC, como es mera formalidad. El reglamento de la ISSF de 2013 incluye algunos cambios significativos que IPC Shooting considera que tendrán un impacto positivo en las competiciones de IPC Shooting. " ^{[ 6 ]}

En enero de 2013 entraron en vigor las nuevas reglas de la ISSF, inicialmente con los cambios más evidentes:

• Tiempos de competición reducidos: Las pruebas de tiro ahora tienen los mismos tiempos reducidos tanto para los competidores de la ISSF como para los de la IPC.
• Nuevo formato de final: Los ocho mejores tiradores parten de cero y, en una secuencia de 20 disparos, los que obtengan puntuaciones bajas serán eliminados cada pocos disparos hasta que los dos mejores se enfrenten en un duelo final. El que obtenga la puntuación decimal más alta se llevará el oro. El nuevo formato de final busca "atraer a un público mundial mediante un formato de competición atractivo y fácil de entender".
• Cambios de vestimenta: los tiradores del IPC no están obligados a usar pantalones de tiro si están sentados, los competidores que estén de pie deberán usar botas de tiro recortadas, etc.

Los equipos de tiro de todo el mundo ahora se centran en las pruebas de puntuación decimal en la fase de clasificación, no solo en la fase final. Asimismo, la bandera de seguridad REGLA 6.2.2.2. , ^{[ 7 ]} con una pequeña bandera de la ISSF en un extremo de una cuerda de nailon muy visible (como la de la desbrozadora), insertada a lo largo y hacia afuera por el otro extremo de ambos rifles y pistolas para mostrar visiblemente que el arma de fuego está descargada y "segura", es un equipo de seguridad adicional obligatorio que se ve en acción en las finales, así como en el control de armas de fuego y mientras se está en espera en el punto de tiro.

• Tiro deportivo en los Juegos Paralímpicos de Verano
• Clasificación de tiro paralímpico

• Sitio web oficial del Campeonato Mundial de Tiro Deportivo Adaptado
• Reglamento de Tiro – Federación Internacional de Tiro Deportivo (ISSF) Archivado el 18 de julio de 2010 en Wayback Machine
• Resumen de cambios en el reglamento de la ISSF 2013-2016
• Sesión de fotos de IPC en Río 2016
• Información sobre tiroteos para discapacitados archivada el 23 de marzo de 2018 en Wayback Machine.
• Asociación Internacional de Deportes para Ciegos: Tiro deportivo