As in previous editions, the 6th International Online Shooting Championship (IOSC) attracted some of the best talent from across the globe. For Steyr, it was a validation of its reputation as a top brand. After its pistol shooters swept the opening day, rifle shooters Martin Strempfl and Etienne Germond put up an impressive performance in 10m air rifle.
It was a remarkable show of grit by Martin in the finals. The Olympic quota winner for Austria trailed in the initial stages but rallied well after the 20th shot to climb to second and stayed there. With this appearance, Martin maintained the record of turning out for all editions of the IOSC and the Online Shooting League (OSL), and the 36-year-old was full of praise for his Steyr rifle.
Tracing his association with the brand, Martin said, “I got a Steyr Challenge E air rifle four years ago on the recommendation of teammates Alexander S and Bernhard Pickl. The appointment at Steyr was quick and I took it away after a few adjustments. When I got home, I was thrilled as I never had a rifle that was so calm while firing and the trigger was perfect. The ammunition showed I could use almost any ammunition, but the biggest advantage is I haven’t had to readjust the trigger or anything else. Of course, you can do well with other rifles, but I am convinced that this is the right one for me and responsible for my many successes, and example being the win at my national championship.”
Another Steyr shooter and World No.27 Etienne qualified with the fourth-best qualification score of 629.0 at the 6th IOSC but could not take part in the final due to a prior commitment. The Frenchman turned to Steyr as “I was looking for a strong rifle with a solid concept and quality. I was also interested in Steyr for their electronic trigger and the fact that the recoil was low. I haven’t been disappointed as this rifle is easy to set up. To ensure an easy transition from my previous rifle, the Steyr support team provided me with all the necessary stuff to adapt. A fast transition was the key as we were only 3-4 weeks away from the New Delhi ISSF World Cup (which later got cancelled due to the pandemic) and I needed to get a great feeling fast. Now, whenever I have a question about my rifle or need advice to set it up, I know the Steyr team is there to provide a quick and fantastic response. This is a real advantage because as a high-level athlete every training is crucial for a top performance. So, the time saved with online support is really appreciated.”
The renowned Austrian gun manufacturer coming on board as the gun partner for the 5th IOSC in October and the 6th IOSC, which concluded last weekend, was an affirmation that IOSC is a big hit among the shooting fraternity and the stakeholders of the sport.
