SAEDNEWS: Sport shooting is a discipline with a long history in Iran. It has developed since the Safavid dynasty and has grown in popularity over time.
According to Saednews, A rifle is a firearm or air gun with a rifled barrel. However, the term is usually used for long guns that require both hands to operate, can fire in a controlled manner, and are generally more accurate than pistols.
Depending on the type of competition and its stages, shooting is performed in standing, kneeling, and prone positions.
In the standing position, the shooter holds the rifle with both hands, and the butt of the rifle rests on the shoulder. The left hand may be supported by the chest or hip.
In the kneeling position, a right-handed athlete places the fingers of the right foot and the knee on the ground, while the left foot remains flat on the floor.
In the prone position, the shooter must not rest the rifle on any object. In this position, the forearm of a right-handed shooter must form an angle of at least 30 degrees with the horizontal line.
For aiming, only the use of iron sights is permitted, without any lenses or scopes. However, colored filters are allowed. The rear sight also includes precise adjustments for elevation and windage.
For many years, shooting sports in Iran were known as the “Sport Shooting Association.” Eventually, in 1958, the Shooting Federation of Iran was established under the supervision of the country’s former Physical Education Organization.
Unlike many purely sporting federations, the Iranian Shooting Federation initially had strong military involvement. It was led by a senior army colonel as its first president, and many of its athletes were military personnel. Military shooters played a significant role in the development and training of athletes within the federation.
Shooting is generally divided into two main categories: indoor events and outdoor clay target events.
50 m Rifle Prone (Men)
50 m Rifle 3 Positions (Prone – Standing – Kneeling) (Men)
10 m Air Rifle (Men)
50 m Pistol (Men)
25 m Rapid Fire Pistol (Men)
10 m Air Pistol (Men)
10 m Running Target (Men)
50 m Air Rifle (Women)
10 m Air Rifle (Women)
25 m Pistol (Women)
10 m Air Pistol (Women)
Trap (Men)
Double Trap (Men)
Skeet (Men)
Trap (Women)
Double Trap (Women)
Skeet (Women)
The Cyprus Shooting World Cup, which also distributed Olympic qualification quotas for the Rio de Janeiro Olympics, included Iranian athletes in several events. However, Iran’s representatives finished the competition without winning medals or securing Olympic quota places.
A Shooting World Cup and Olympic qualification event was held in the United States. Iran was scheduled to participate in the pistol events, but logistical and organizational issues prevented the national team from attending.
Based on the technical staff’s decision, several Iranian athletes were sent to the competition in rifle and pistol events. Notable shooters included Elaheh Ahmadi, Mah Laqa Jambozorg, Najmeh Khedmati, and others. Elaheh Ahmadi reached the final in the women’s 10 m air rifle event after a strong qualifying performance but finished eighth and did not secure an Olympic quota.
A large Iranian delegation participated across rifle, pistol, trap, double trap, and skeet events. In this competition, Elaheh Ahmadi and Najmeh Khedmati performed strongly in the final stages, achieving first and third places in their event. They won gold and bronze medals and secured Olympic qualification quotas for Rio 2016, marking an important achievement for Iranian shooting sports.
