World Military Shooting Championships over

The World Military Shooting Championships were concluded with the prize-giving ceremony in Boden Arena on Saturday afternoon. ”We are extremely proud to have been called upon to arrange these championships,” said the Armed Forces´ Director of Operations, General Anders Lindström, in his closing address.

The World Military Shooting Championships were concluded on Saturday in Boden Arena. Photo: Mats Engfors, PIC WMSC 2008.
General Anders Lindström, right, returns the CISM flag to Major General Doug Langton.
General Anders Lindström, right, returns the CISM flag to Major General Doug Langton. Photo: Mats Engfors, PIC WMSC 2008.
General Anders Lindström, right, returns the CISM flag to Major General Doug Langton. Photo: Mats Engfors, PIC WMSC 2008.

For a week, shooters from 44 nations have been competing at Rödberget Shooting Centre in Boden, and the championships have maintained a high standard with standing military world records being broken four times. The quality of the competitions was further underlined by the many spontaneous comments praising the conditions at our shooting ranges, comments coming from competitors who have taken part in both the Olympics and previous world championships – which made the praise even more pleasing.

China won most medals
No two ways about it – China dominated the pistol events. One need only add up the medals. China took home eleven medals from the championships, six of them gold, two silver and three bronze. Norway came second in the medals table with eight medals, followed by Belarus with five.

The best points total was that of the USA, and the awards for best marksmanship went to the following:
Best rifle shooter men, Rajmond Debevec, Slovenia, best rifle shooter women, Gyda E Olsson, Norway, best pistol shooter men, Zheng Gao, China and finally best pistol shooter women, Zhanna Shapialevich, Belarus.

Thank to all concerned
After all the medals and awards had been handed out, the championships were officially closed by General Anders Lindström.
”A big thanks to Norrbotten, Boden Garrison and the Norrbotten Regiment – particularly the officials from the voluntary organisations of the Home Guard and civilian shooting organisations – without your input it would not have been possible.

All the results and other statistics can be found in the attached pdf document to the right.