World record holders, world winners and Commonwealth Games winners are among the first set of athletes selected to represent Britain in shooting at this year’s Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games. .
Janet McIntosh, who won gold medals at the 2018 World Championships at the 2018 World Championships, will lead the Olympic selection team, with world record keeper Matt Skelhon leading a squad firing Para.
A total of 10 athletes – six Olympics and four Paralympics – have been named to the team for the Games, postponed from 2020 to this year due to coronavirus infection.
Matt Coward-Holley, Kirsty Hegarty and Aaron Heading join McIntosh, a three-time European champion and world record holder who is regarded as Britain’s most successful female rifle shooter ever.
Coward-Holley became Britain’s first world champion in Olympic trap shooting in 2019, and Hegarty holds the Commonwealth Games and European silver medals, the first Irish athlete to North selected for Tokyo 2020.
The four-time Commonwealth Games medalist and four-time World Cup winner Leader finishes the line, with another selection to be made by British Shooting later this year.
Skelhon is the star name in the team for the Paralympics after winning gold at Beijing 2008 and two titles at the 2019 World Championships.
James Bevis, London 2012 bronze medalist, world winners Tim Jeffery and Ryan Cockbill, and Rio 2016 Paralympics Lorraine Lambert and Issy Bailey have been named after the Para shooting team.
“We have a strong team going into both the Olympic and Paralympic Games,” said British Hunting performance director Steven Seligmann.
“Everyone who has been selected is the quota winner in their own right and has put on some great performances on the world stage that deserve to be selected.
“By choosing now, it gives them the best opportunity to focus on their preparation over the coming months.”
Britain has also selected athletes for Tokyo 2020 in sailing, canoeing, sport climbing and triathlon.