A host of international competitors have begun to arrive in Sydney ahead of the start of the 2011 ISSF World Cup at the Sydney International Shooting Centre next Wednesday (23 March).

Athletes from Russia, China, Great Britain, USA, Czech Republic and Italy amongst others have already arrived in Sydney, with more nations to touch down in the coming days.

Over 760 athletes will compete at the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games venue as crucial quota places are made available to qualify for the 2012 London Olympic Games.

Two quota places will be awarded in each of the 15 Olympic events to be contested at the second leg of the four leg World Cup series, with Australia looking to add to the one quota place they achieved at the 2010 ISSF World Championships.

Lalita Yauhleuskaya (VIC) won the silver medal in the 10m women’s air pistol at that event, but most of the attention will now focus on a range of Australian athletes who will take home ground advantage into the competition as they chase quota places.

In the men’s trap dual Olympic gold medallist Michael Diamond (NSW) and 2004 Olympic bronze medallist Adam Vella (VIC) will line up, knowing they are both capable of a podium finish. Both Diamond and Vella are currently ranked inside the world’s top ten.

1996 Olympic gold medallist Russell Mark (VIC) will target the Sydney event as a major chance to seal a quota place for Australia in the men’s double trap. Mark finished 16th at the World Cup in Chile earlier this month but will aim for a strong finish on the range he won silver at 11 years ago.

2008 Beijing Olympic Games bronze medallist in the men’s 50m rifle prone, Warren Potent (NSW), enters the World Cup ranked seven in the world and off an excellent performance in the United States in February.

Potent won the Super Final at the Rocky Mountain Rifle Championships against a high quality field and will look to build on the performance in Sydney.

Australia will also take a quality squad in the women’s trap event, with 2004 Athens Olympic Games gold medallist Suzy Balogh (NSW) and young star Laetisha Scanlan (VIC) both in excellent form.

Balogh has shot scores of 72, 71 and 71 in her past three outings in Australia, while Scanlan won Australia Cup 1 and only missed a berth in the final at the World Cup in Chile by one target, including beating current world number one from China, Yingzi Liu.

Australian International Shooting Ltd