How well can people train their shooting capability with guns that have no bullets?
The answer has been found with the Iranian national women's rifle team at the Gwangju Summer Universiade.
They have been winning many medals in both individual and group events, threatening the existing top teams such as Korea and China.

Among them, Khedmati Najmeh won gold in the 10-meter air rifle individual event on July 5. Jambozorg Mahlagha also won a gold medal in the 50-meter rifle prone on the same day. The Iranian women's team won bronze medals in the 10-meter air rifle competition on July 5, the 50-meter rifle prone event on July 6 and a silver in the 50-meter rifle 3-positions event on July 8.






Their victory has received the media spotlight because they have been training with empty guns. Because of the international embargo on arms imports into Iran by the U.N. in 2010, they were unable to import bullets. They bought some bullets sometimes when they went to Germany, but it was insufficient for training. They did not give up, however. They kept training with empty guns, focusing on posture, aim and breathing. They also followed a special electric training system devised by the team coach Laszlo Szucsak.

Their efforts have started to pay off. At the Incheon Asian Games last year, Khedmati Najmeh won gold in the 10-meter air rifle competition, the first-ever gold won by Iran in shooting. As of July 8, the Iranian women's rifle team has won two golds, one silver and two bronze medals.


By Yoon Sojung
Korea.net Staff Writer
Photo: Gwangju Summer Universiade Organizing Committee
arete@korea.kr