WELLINGTON shooter Ed Ling will be flying the flag for Team GB at next year’s Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro after being named in a six-strong squad today.

The two-time Olympian and world silver medallist will compete in the men’s trap at next year’s Games – and the 32-year-old said it is ‘a great honour’ to be selected.

“I’m absolutely over the moon,” he said.

“All the hard work has come together.

“You never know who is going to get the place, but I knew that as long as I held my form, I should get it.

“It’s a great honour, every sports person who wears that flag for their country should be honoured - it’s a great experience.

“It’s what we work for, to obtain that Olympic medal.

“I think the experience I’ve had means I know what I’m going to expect going into this year but when competing we’re only as good as we can perform on the day.”

The announcement of the six shooters takes Team GB’s total number of selected athletes for Rio 2016 to 18 from three sports following the announcements of eight sailors and four slalom canoeists.

Team GB Chef de Mission Mark England said: "It’s fantastic to welcome these six shooters to Team GB for Rio 2016 and to see the team growing - with shooting now the third sport to be welcomed into the Team GB fold for the Games next summer.

“Team GB has a proud history in Olympic shooting and it’s great to see this trend continuing with the class of 2016.

“For each athlete to have secured their quota place with outstanding performances in major competitions is testament to the strength of the team and of the individuals we’re delighted to be taking to Rio.”

Shooting Team Leader Phil Scanlan said: “I am delighted that the BOA have confirmed our selections for the 2016 Rio Olympic Games.

“We have a great blend of youth and experience with a range from two-time Olympians to those experiencing their first Games.

“They are all Olympic quota place winners in their own right, and to manage that in the sport of shooting is a major achievement in itself, with most having to win a medal at a major championship to get the quota.

“We are coming off the back of a very successful two year qualifying period for British Shooting, with many medals, both individual and team, won in World, European and Commonwealth Championships, so confidence is very high.

“And of course, we still have the European Championships in Hungary in February 2016, where we could potentially add one or even two more to the Rio team.

“We have a whole host of talented athletes coming through the GB Academy Programme and we hope that success in Rio will inspire them to go on to become the world leading shooting nation at Tokyo 2020 and beyond.”