CAIRO, Nov. 18 (Xinhua) -- International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) president Luciano Rossi has hailed China's record-breaking season and Cairo's successful staging of the 2025 ISSF World Championship Rifle/Pistol, saying the athletes, facilities and organization have made this year's event a standout edition.
In a recent interview with Xinhua in Cairo, Rossi highlighted China's exceptional form throughout the 2025 season, noting that Chinese shooters have already set several world records this year.
"The Chinese athletes work very hard and very well, and their scores are very high," he said, adding that their results reflect sustained progress and high-level performance.
The 2025 ISSF World Championship Rifle/Pistol in Cairo, held from Nov. 6 to 18, has drawn more than 700 shooters from across the globe and delivered some of the season's strongest performances.
"In Cairo, the shooting range is really beautiful. All the equipment works very well. So, we are very happy, and all the athletes were very happy to compete in this World Championship in Cairo 2025," Rossi said.
China has topped the medal table with 12 gold, seven silver and two bronze medals, followed by South Korea and India.
China's young 21-member squad has produced one of the most dominant showings in recent ISSF history, setting five world records across rifle and pistol events.
All five Chinese women who competed in pistol events won gold and became world record holders, while 20-year-old Yao Qianxun collected six golds and two silvers, breaking three world records.
Rossi said China's rise is part of a broader surge in Asian shooting, noting that multiple countries and regions across the continent have significantly improved in recent years, underlining the region's strong results and continued development.
He added that China will also host a major ISSF World Cup next year in Hangzhou, describing it as "a beautiful city awaiting a great competition."
Rossi said the competition level in Cairo has been "very high," with the start of the new Olympic cycle creating additional pressure as athletes look to qualify and build momentum for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games. "They know that the World Championship is the second biggest competition after the Olympics."
Looking ahead to LA 2028, he confirmed that the ISSF has maintained 340 athlete quotas and 15 shooting events, with allocations unchanged from previous cycles.
Rossi also revealed that the ISSF will move forward with rifle clothing reforms, amid concerns that increasingly rigid shooting suits and footwear affect performance, cost, athlete health and the sport's long-term Olympic standing.
Updated rules are expected to be published by late November, with testing planned during the first three World Cup stages next year before final adjustments are made.
He added that the federation continues working with all continental and national bodies to modernize formats and improve both athlete experience and audience understanding.
"We are working together, and we respect all the athletes, all the coaches, all the federations and all the continents," he said. "We collect new ideas to get ready for the new format, also for the next Olympics. This is what I promise, and this is what we are doing together."
Rossi emphasized that youth development remains central to the ISSF's strategy, with new training and competition pathways under study, alongside expanded support for Africa and developing regions.
"The ISSF is always focused on the future. Through innovation and cooperation, we want to make shooting more visible and vibrant around the world," the ISSF president told Xinhua. ■
