Three local target shooters have begun training for the IDPA European Championship to be held in Brescia, Italy, next month, where 180 shooters from Slovania, Italy, Russia and Malta will be taking part.

This has been made possible thanks to the support of the Armed Forces of Malta, which has been instrumental in launching target shooting in Malta.

This sport is getting ever so popular in Malta and Gozo that it has become apparent that the AFM Safi range can no longer cater for such an increased demand. In this context private ranges are urgently required. Once private ranges are functional, the next logical step is to set up the right conditions for what could become another important economic contributor for the Maltese Islands, a new niche for the tourism industry, as undoubtedly this would see the influx of hundreds of target shooters with their families from the continent.

The shooters are Patrick Azzopardi, President of the Pistol & Rifle Club MSSF and Mark Cassar and John Cassar, both members of the MSSF. John Cassar is also the IPDA and Safety officer instructor for the Maltese Islands.

The MSSF thanked the Parliamentary Secretariat for Youth and Sports for their support.