2020 Tokyo Olympics to have men compete against women in shooting

By the 2020 Olympics (in Tokyo), women shooters will be seen competing against men. The previous instance was during the 1992 Barcelona Games, where skeet was held as an open event and six women shooters were allowed to compete.

China’s Shan Zhang prevailed to win the most famous gold in shooting till date.

The possibility of another woman shooter beating the men may arise as the ISSF (the international federation) is trying to work out a plan to accommodate the International Olympic Committee’s ‘Agenda 2020’, which calls for all sports federations “to get 50 per cent female participation in the Olympic Games”. It also calls for mixed team events.

“We have been discussing it since our last executive committee meeting. Big questions about gender equality are coming up for the Tokyo Games. We have to make some serious decisions,” ISSF secretary-general Franz Schreiber told HT on Sunday.

Schreiber said a clear picture of which disciplines would need to change to accommodate the IOC’s wish would emerge after the Rio Games.

“We will discuss this in the next general assembly and executive body meeting in June and July. If we come out with the changes now, it may affect those training for Rio. After that, we will have our tests,” he explained.

The National Rifle Association of India president Raninder Singh, who is part of the ISSF executive, added that double trap could have a mixed team event.

The ISSF is also trying to improve the finals of a few events to make them more dramatic for spectators. “The focus is on our athletes because it is their competition. But a competition without spectators will not work; neither will the competition without athletes. Our goal is to bring this together in the best possible way,” said Schrieber.