BARQUISIMETO /Venezuela/, August 24. /TASS-DEFENSE/. A Russian sniper team has taken the first place in the second stage of the Sniper Frontier contest of the International Army Games in Venezuela, the Russian Defense Ministry's press office said.

"Severe weather conditions, such as heavy rain and squally wind, made it difficult for us to take part in the competition and hit targets. However, our sniper teams turned out to be better than the rest, taking the first and third places. A team from Uzbekistan ranks second," the press office said.

According to the press office, the stage lasted three days. "The participants accomplished various tasks to demonstrate a high level of professional skills, physical and psychological readiness," the press office added.

The Sniper Frontier contest is running at the Terepaima training range in the Venezuelan State of Lara. The Russian Armed Forces are being represented by a national team formed upon the results of the all-army stage of the competition. The team consists of cadets of the Far Eastern Higher Combined-Arms Command School and the Moscow Higher Combined-Arms Command School, as well as specialists of the Eastern Military District's sniping center. The participants in the contest operate Dragunov 7.62mm sniper rifles with the PSO-1 sight.