Tokyo 2020 Olympics news – Shooters Seonaid McIntosh and Matt Coward-Holley selected for Team GB

Updated 13/01/2021 at 12:46 GMT

The British Olympic Association have announced four shooters for Tokyo 2020, none of whom have competed at an Olympics before. The rearranged Games, pushed back a year due to the coronavirus pandemic, take place from July 23 to August 8. Shooting becomes the fifth sport to announce athletes for Team GB, joining canoeing, sailing, sport climbing and triathlon.

Seonaid McIntosh at the 2018 Commonwealth Games

Image credit: Getty Images

Seonaid McIntosh and Matt Coward-Holley headline a quartet of Team GB shooters selected for the rearranged Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.

McIntosh will compete in the 3x50 rifle and 10m air rifle, while Coward-Holley is named in the trap.

They will be joined by Aaron Heading (men’s trap) and Kirsty Hegarty (women’s trap) in Japan.

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McIntosh, a world and Commonwealth champion, is already Britain’s most successful female rifle shooter aged 24. Coward-Holley won gold in the trap at the 2019 World Shooting Championships.

"There is no greater experience than going to your first Olympic Games and I’d like to congratulate this talented group of athletes on their selection to Team GB for Tokyo 2020," said Mark England, Team GB Chef de Mission for Tokyo 2020.

"While we continue to navigate the unique challenges facing us as result of the pandemic, starting 2021 with this positive announcement is a strong illustration of how committed we are to the Tokyo Olympic Games and we look forward to following these athletes’ journeys over the coming months."

The British Olympic Association are expected to add other shooters to the team closer to the Games.

Britain has a rich shooting history, securing 46 Olympic medals including 13 golds.