Australia will start 3 men for the first time in over a decade on IBU Cup tonight with the aim of qualifying a male through to the pinnacle event of IBU season 2023-24, the IBU World Championships next month. Yes, the part of the IBU season beginning on 1 January is well and truly underway and now is the time to again start thinking about clicking on the IBU Watch Live link to see our Australian Biathlon Team in action on Eurovision Sport. The IBU “Watch Live” link is on the header of the IBU landing page at: https://www.biathlonworld.com Boris Stanish (Bib 58, 8:59pm AEDT), Noah Bradford (Bib 88, 9:14pm AEDT) and Jack Hirst (Bib 103, 9:21:30pm AEDT) are lining up tonight in the Men 15km Short Individual IBU Cup 4 event at Martell-Val Martello, Italy. Eurovision Sport will be broadcasting the event live from 8:20pm to 10:35pm AEDT.  Boris and Noah are looking to IBU cup results to earn a start quota to the 2024 Biathlon World Championships in Nové Město na Moravě, Czech Republic. The World Championships in the Czech Republic are the pinnacle event for IBU season 2023-24. From Article 12.6.1.1.1 of the IBU Event and Competition Rules “Those NFs without a quota based on their Nations Cup ranking can earn a start quota of up to a maximum of two competitors through NF Wild Cards. The 10 best-ranked athletes on the IBU qualifying points list from a NF not already having a quota in the WCH, earn a start quota for their respective NF (maximum two per NF). All athletes intending to start through such a quota have to fulfill the personal WCH qualification criteria.”  So Boris and Noah are looking for a chance to join Darcie Morton at the World Championships from 8 to 18 February 2024 by reducing their IBU Qualifying Points World ranking at the upcoming IBU Cup races in Martell (IC4, 4-7 Jan 24) and Ridnaun-Val Ridanna (IC5 10-13 Jan 24). Darcie Morton is super keen to see the Australian men succeed to ensure a start of a first ever Single Mixed Relay team in the Nove Mesto World Championships next month. Jack Hirst is on leave from the Australian Army and will be looking to cement a spot in the Australian Army biathlon team this year to help Army beat Navy and attempt to win back the coveted Australian Defence Force Interservice Championship from Air Force: https://www.defence.gov.au/news-events/news/2023-08-24/raaf-triumphs-skiing-championship All the best to our Australian Biathlon Team tonight, and don’t forget to watch all the action live from 8:20pm AEDT at IBU Watch Live. Buona fortuna a tutti!