WINDHOEK – Local Olympic Trap shottists will have to bring their A game this weekend when Namibia hosts the continents elite at the African Grand Prix south of Windhoek, generously sponsored by Bank Windhoek and spearheaded by two-time Namibian Olympian Gaby Ahrens.
Host Namibia is eager to use its home ground advantage for a place among the top 3 with Ahrens the only female to compete in the 8th edition of this continental showpiece. Ahrens, a bronze-medalist at the Commonwealth Games in 2010 is no stranger to such a scenario, having made the 4th place against an all-men’s group of shottists at the Western Province Championships in Cape Town a fortnight ago.
The event will also mark the first occasion at which 32-year-old Ahrens will be pulling the trigger of her new gun, which she finally received last week. “I’m very happy with my new gun and will use it this weekend. The quicker I get used to it, the better,” she said about the gun manufactured by German-based company – Krieghoff. The local pair of Gielie van Wyk and Sven Ahrens possess the potential to claim a medal irrespective of the colour, although South African champion Tobie de Wet and Angolan champion Paulo Silva are clear favourites amongst the 30 shottists, who will be in action. The 2-day competition gets underway on Saturday at 09h00 at the Luiperdsvallei Shooting Range.
By Staff Reporter