Maltese trap shooter George Cassar, right, slipped to 60th place in the World Championship standings after having led the table following the first two rounds.

The event is being held in Belgrade, capital of Serbia. It also includes separate events for Junior athletes.

Cassar was a great protagonist in the opening two rounds when he hit two straights. After the first one, he was placed third and after the second round, he was placed first together with several other shooters.

However, in round three, Cassar had a disastrous round, hitting 21 and with most of the others, hitting 25 or 24 clays, he slipped down to 60th place in the standings.

Two other shooters, Jeffrey Pisani and Jason John Aquilina are also taking part in the event.

Pisani is in 110th place on rounds of 19, 21 and 25, while Aquilina is in 115th place on rounds of 20, 24 and 21

The other Maltese taking part are William Chetcuti (Double Trap Men) and Nathan Lee Xuereb (Double Trap Men Junior) and Clive Farrugia (Skeet Men Junior)

The ISSF Vice-President, HH Sheik Salman Al Sabah of Kuwait, saluted the athletes and officially declared the competition open at the inaugural ceremony held on Sunday evening.

It is the first time in the history of the sport that the ISSF Shotgun World Championship is taking place in Serbia.