A total of 1,041 athletes from 91 countries compete in Lusail for world titles and places at Los Angeles 2028.
Competition at the shooting world championships began on Tuesday, 3 November, at the Lusail Shooting Complex in Qatar, with 1,041 athletes from 91 countries. They are competing for world titles and 36 quota places for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games, at the opening stage of Olympic qualification.
On 5 November, Egypt placed fifth in women’s 10m air pistol team standings with 1,716 points: Hala Elgohari scored 580, Manal Sami 570 and Afaf Elhodhod 566. Elgohari was tenth in individual qualification with 580 points and 15 inner tens, against 580 and 24 inner tens for the eighth-placed finalist.
China’s Jiang Ranxin won women’s air pistol gold with 242.4 points, ahead of compatriot Yao Qianxun on 242.1 and Hungary’s Veronika Major on 222.1. China, Hungary and Iran secured the three Olympic quota places.
China’s Hu Kai won men’s air pistol gold with 243.9 points, ahead of India’s Jaypal Malviya on 242.2 and Czechia’s Jindrich Dubovy on 220.9. The Olympic quota places went to China, India and Czechia.
Sheng Lihao won men’s 10m air rifle gold ahead of Ma Sihan and Miran Maricic. China, Croatia and Slovakia secured the first quota places for Los Angeles 2028.
Korea’s Ban Hyojin won women’s 10m air rifle gold on 3 November with 253.1 points, ahead of China’s Han Jiayu and Wang Zifei. Korea, China and France secured the event’s quota places for Los Angeles 2028.
On 4 November, Germany’s Florian Peter took men’s 25m rapid fire pistol gold with 33 hits, ahead of France’s Clement Bessaguet on 32 and Jean Quiquampoix on 26. The three Olympic quota places went to Germany, France and Czechia.
China also won gold and silver in the 10m air rifle mixed team event that day. Wang Zifei and Sheng Lihao scored 506.1 points, ahead of Du Yuchen and Zhang Changhong on 504.4, while Korea took bronze.
The overall championship programme runs from 1 to 14 November, including arrivals, training and departures, while competition takes place from 3 to 13 November. It brings together three main disciplines: rifle, pistol and shotgun.
Fixed targets and flying clays
In rifle and pistol events, athletes aim at targets over distances that vary by event. These include 10-metre air rifle and air pistol, as well as 50-metre rifle three positions.
Shotgun events include skeet and trap, in which athletes attempt to hit clay targets launched by machines. The two events differ in target trajectories and shooting stations, demanding quick reactions, concentration and accuracy. The programme includes men’s, women’s and mixed-team events.
The road to Los Angeles
The 36 Olympic quota places are distributed across 12 individual events, with three places available in each, subject to the qualification rules. By the end of the air pistol finals on 5 November, 15 places had been awarded to ten countries. These are places for National Olympic Committees at the Games; athlete selection remains subject to the applicable qualification and selection rules. Skeet quota places will be decided on 6 November and trap places on 12 November.
Qatar is represented by 22 male and female athletes across skeet, trap, rifle and pistol. Its skeet competitors include Nasser Al-Attiyah and Rashid Saleh Al-Athba, as the hosts seek medals and Olympic quota places.
How can viewers follow the finals?
The International Shooting Sport Federation is streaming every final live and free on its official YouTube channel, with schedules and results available on its website.
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