Australia has announced a high quality 53-person squad for the 2011 ISSF World Cup in March at the Sydney International Shooting Centre, Cecil Park.

The second leg of the 2011 World Cup circuit serves as an important event for Australia’s hopes of qualifying shooters for the 2012 London Olympic Games, with quota places available across all 15 Olympic categories.

Australian pistol shooter Lalita Yauhleuskaya (VIC) secured Australia’s only quota to date for London when she won the silver medal at the 2010 ISSF World Championships in Munich in the women’s 10m air pistol.

Yauhleuskaya will line up in the same event in Sydney alongside Dina Aspandiyarova (VIC) and Linda Ryan (VIC), with the trio also competing in the women’s 25m pistol.

Dual Olympic gold medallist Michael Diamond (NSW) has always shot well in Sydney and will look for a repeat performance of his emotional 2000 Olympic Games gold medal at the same venue.

Diamond and Adam Vella (VIC) will both chase an Olympic quota place for Australia in the men’s trap, with quotas only being awarded to the top two finishers at the World Cup.

2004 Olympic gold medallist Suzy Balogh (VIC) makes her return to the Australian team after improved performances saw her win a spot in both the women’s trap and women’s skeet events.

Balogh, who last shot for Australia on the 2009 World Cup circuit, remains capable of shooting high scores and will shoot alongside Laetisha Scanlan (VIC) and Catherine Skinner (VIC) in the women’s trap for Australia.

2008 Beijing Olympic Games bronze medallist in the men’s 50m prone rifle, Warren Potent (NSW), will also be one to watch throughout the week, while 1996 Athens Olympic Games gold medallist Russell Mark (VIC) will line up in the men’s double trap.

The ISSF Sydney World Cup will run from March 21 – April 1 at the Sydney International Shooting Centre.

Australian International Shooting Ltd