Azerbaijani shooters win bronze in Slovenia

By Azernews

By Laman Ismayilova

Azerbaijani shooters Ruslan Lunev and Nigar Nasirova have claimed bronze medal at the European Championship 10m, held in Maribor, Slovenia, Azertac reported.

Some 26 teams participated in the Mixed Team Air Pistol event.

From the Qualification to the first semi-finals had reached Serbia, Azerbaijan, Ukraine and Spain and to the second semi-finals competed Russia, Bulgaria, Germany and France.

Stand shooting in Azerbaijan emerged since 1920. The participation of country's stand marksmen in the Olympic Games started with the Olympic Games in Seoul in 1988. Representing the country in this type of sport Valeri Timokhin was a participant of Seoul and Atlanta Olympiads.

In Summer Olympic Games held in Sydney in 2000, Zemfira Meftahaddinova became the world's most accurate stand marksman in the history. She got 98 of 100 possible points, and renewed the Olympic record.

Irada Ashumova became winner of bronze medal at the Olympic Games in Athens in 2004. In addition, at the World Championships held in 1998, in Barcelona (Spain) and in 2002 in Lahti (Finland)  Irada Ashumova won the 2nd place with small caliber pistol.

Azerbaijani shooter Ruslan Lunev competed in the men's 10 metre air pistol event at the 2016 Summer Olympics.