China Secures First Gold Medal of Paris 2024 Olympics in Thrilling 10m Air Rifle Mixed Team Event

The Paris 2024 Olympic Games have officially kicked off with a thrilling start as the People’s Republic of China claimed the first gold medal in the 10m air rifle mixed team event on July 27th at the Châteauroux Shooting Centre.

The Chinese duo, 19-year-old Sheng Lihao and 17-year-old Huang Yuting, who are also world champions, showcased their exceptional skills and composure under pressure. They overcame a strong challenge from the Republic of Korea’s Keum Jihyeon and Park Hajun to secure the top spot on the podium with a 16-12 victory.

An incredible moment for the People’s Republic of China as they take the first #gold medal of the Olympic Games #Paris2024! 🥇🇨🇳

Outstanding performance in shooting 10m air rifle mixed team! That’s back-to-back golds in this event for the People's Republic of China.… pic.twitter.com/hIG9odFgtc
— The Olympic Games (@Olympics) July 27, 2024

China’s victory marks consecutive Olympic titles in this event, following their triumph in its debut at Tokyo 2020. Sheng’s precision and accuracy were instrumental in building an early lead, and despite a spirited comeback from the Korean team, China maintained their dominance to clinch the gold.

“My main feeling is just happiness,” Sheng expressed post-victory. “The match was quite hard, but being able to do a personal best performance helped a lot.” When asked about the significance of this win in his career, he added, “It’s only the beginning for me.”

The silver medal went to the Republic of Korea’s Keum Jihyeon and Park Hajun, who fought valiantly but ultimately fell short against the formidable Chinese pair.

In an earlier match, Kazakhstan’s Alexandra Le and Islam Satpayev made history by securing the first medal of the Paris 2024 Olympics and their country’s first shooting medal since 1996. The Kazakh team dominated Germany with a 17-5 victory, earning the bronze medal.

“I’m feeling perfect. This was the first (Olympic) competition for me, and I got third place, so it’s perfect,” Satpayev said, elated with their achievement.

Kazakhstan’s success was marked by consistent high scores, with Satpayev and Le demonstrating remarkable accuracy and teamwork. Their performance in the final rounds was particularly impressive, securing scores of 21.6 and 21.4 to comfortably surpass the 16-point target needed for the bronze.

As the Paris 2024 Olympics continue, the remarkable performances in the 10m air rifle mixed team event have set a high standard, promising an exciting and competitive Games ahead.