The continental 10m competition concluded on Wednesday with Ukraine topping the table ahead of forty national federations. Over 350 athletes showcased precision in high-stakes challenge formats, delivering a transformative week for the discipline.
Ukraine emerged as the dominant force of the tournament, topping the overall medal table with an impressive total of 14 medals, including five golds. Viltorya Rybovalova alone won three gold medals, one in women’s moving targets moxed event and two more in teams. In the final standings, Ukraine was followed by Norway and Hungary, each with five gold medals. Hungary’s Veronika Major also won three gold medals, including one in the Olympic air pistol womens category.
Norway’s position was bolstered by Pernille Nor-Woll, who delivered a career-defining performance by setting a new European Record in the senior air rifle women’s final after already securing the Junior title.
In the pistol events, Anton Aristarkhov (AIN) proved untouchable by becoming a double individual champion, while Türkiye enjoyed significant success, punctuated by a dramatic final-day victory for the legendary Yusuf Dikeç and his teammates in the air pistol trio.
The introduction of the ESC Challenge and trio formats brought a theatrical flair to the competition, with many finals decided by the narrowest of margins. Both the men’s and women’s air rifle solo gold medal matches ended in 15-14 scores, with Croatia’s Josip Sikavica and Türkiye’s Damla Köse emerging victorious in these high-pressure duels.
The Karen Demirchyan Complex also provided the stage for a transformative performance by the Armenian national team, which finished fourth in the overall medal standings. This success was anchored by a remarkable coincidence as two different athletes named Lilit Mkrtchyan dominated the moving target disciplines. The senior Lilit Mkrtchyan solidified her status as a continental force by claiming her forth European title, while her younger namesake mirrored this excellence by securing gold medals in both the individual and team junior categories.
The Armenian success was rounded off on the final day as the men’s air pistol trio, featuring Zaven Igityan, Benik Khlghatyan, and Gevorg Melkonyan, fought through a tense bronze medal match to ensure the host nation remained a top force until the final shot.
Beyond the moving target range, the emotional peak of the championships occurred during the air pistol solo women’s final. Local favourite Elmira Karapetyan, competing while seven months pregnant, displayed extraordinary composure to secure a silver medal. The achievement drew thunderous applause from the Yerevan crowd and was described by observers as an inspiring testament to the resilience of elite athletes.
Reflecting on her path to the podium, Karapetyan noted the immense physical challenge. “Actually, it was very difficult to prepare. No one can imagine how complicated this process is,” she stated. “But I am very happy that I have a medal. I am very excited that I managed to shoot this competition.”
Despite the enthusiastic local support, Karapetyan admitted the pressure of competing on home soil. “The home walls do not help shooting, I would say they rather hinder, because you feel more responsible,” she explained. However, she expressed immense pride in her achievement. “I do not think my silver medal is somehow less than gold, knowing my path and how I reached it. I am satisfied with my result, simply that girl shot better.”
Looking ahead, she confirmed her sights will set on the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic cycle, only after she welcomes her child and completes her recovery. The flawless execution of the championships was the result of long-term planning. Secretary General of the Armenian Shooting Federation, Areg Saribekyan, detailed the extensive preparations required to bring the event to reality.
“The initiative started about two years ago. It was a unique dream for all the athletes, the staff, and the federation,” Saribekyan explained. “The president of the federation started taking active steps, cooperating with state bodies, because we realised what an important event this is.”
The effort clearly paid dividends, with international delegates praising the host nation. “All teams are very satisfied,” Saribekyan noted. “They were surprised by our Armenian hospitality, which is simple for us but extraordinary for them. They mentioned they would be very happy if we organised other events too, especially since about 98 percent of the participants visited Armenia for the first time.”
In an interview with Inside The Games, Alexander Ratner, president of the European Shooting Confederation, reflected on the historic significance of the Yerevan event. Ratner admitted that the bid from the Armenian Federation was both unexpected and remarkably ambitious.
“The European Shooting Confederation received a proposal from the Armenian Shooting Federation to hold such a large tournament right here only two years ago,” Ratner explained. “For many, this was an ambitious challenge as never before shooting competitions of such scale have been organized in the country. Now we can say with confidence that our Armenian friends have undoubtedly met this challenge. The championship was a great success.”
Ratner highlighted the atmosphere as a key indicator of the event’s victory, “Athletes are satisfied, we as organisers are satisfied, and I think the Armenian side is also satisfied. It was pleasant that the championship was visited by many guests and many residents of Yerevan. I think this is a good sign that there is interest in this sport and such a large event.”
He also highlighted the crucial support provided by the national leadership, stating, “We are grateful to the Government of the Republic of Armenia. The Prime Minister was personally present at the opening. We know that he was the initiator of this idea. We are also grateful to the Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sport, and of course, the Armenian Shooting Federation, who made maximum efforts to ensure that everyone was truly satisfied.”
Looking to the future, Ratner noted that while the ESC calendar is largely fixed until 2029, the door remains open for Armenia to host again, “I hope that this championship has left behind what we call a legacy for the development of shooting sports in the country.
The presence of ISSF President Luciano Rossi further validated the tournament’s success. Given the often strained relationship between the ESC and the ISSF leadership, Rossi’s visit to Yerevan was closely watched.
Addressing this tension, Ratner noted, “The President of the International Federation was at the opening, he visited the competitions, and we provided him with the opportunity to present medals and reward the winners and medallists. Judging by the publication on the ISSF website, the President gave a high assessment of the organisation of the championship and the efforts of both the European Confederation and the Armenian Federation. In general, we can speak of a certain positive effect from the visit of the President of the International Shooting Sport Federation.”
Addressing this tension, Ratner noted, “The ISSF President was among guests at the opening, he visited the competitions, we provided him with the opportunity to present medals and reward the winners. Judging by the publication on the ISSF website, we can speak of a certain positive effect from the visit of Mr. Rossi to our Championship”.
In the interview with the ISSF’s official website, Rossi stated that the commitment shown by the Armenian authorities, together with the excellent work of the national federation and the European Shooting Confederation, has ensured the successful organisation of this European Championship.
“Armenia has demonstrated that it is fully capable of hosting major international competitions at the highest level,” told Rossi. This successful staging has strengthened Armenia’s position within the international shooting community and created a permanent legacy for the sport as the federation turns its focus toward the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic cycle.
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