BEIJING, July 23,
2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Chinese markswoman Zhang
Mengxue secured the first gold medal for the Chinese delegation at
the Rio 2016 Summer Olympics. In Tokyo 2020, it was another shooter,
Yang Qian, who won the first gold.
Who will carry on the honor of capturing the first gold medal for
China in Paris 2024?
China, on Wednesday, announced
its men's and women's squad for the pistol and rifle events at the
Paris 2024 Summer Olympics after
the final national selection competition held in Xi'an, Northwest
China's Shaanxi
Province.
The 10-meter air rifle Olympic champion Yang Qian was replaced by a cadre of young
shooters who have emerged from the recent international
competitions.
During a recent interview with the Global Times, Luciano Rossi, president of the International
Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF), said that the emergence of young
Chinese athletes has promoted the global development of the
shooting sport.
"It is unfortunate that Yang Qian
will not be participating in the Paris Games. The emergence of young talent and
the intense domestic competition have highlighted the depth of
talent within China's shooting
community," said Rossi.
This bodes well for the sustainability of the sport on the
international stage, as it demonstrates the continuous influx of
skilled athletes and the resilience of the sport's development,
said the president from Italy.
Full quota
The Olympic roster for the national shooting team features a
group of young Gen Z shooters with the youngest being 17.
The women's team is spearheaded by Han Jiayu, 10m air rifle gold medalist at the 2023 ISSF
World Championships in Baku,
Azerbaijan, and Jiang Ranxin, 10m air pistol gold medalist at the world
championships.
Olympic silver medalist Sheng Lihao is joined by Zhang Bowen, 10m
air pistol world champion, among others in the men's team.
The roster is determined through the accumulation of points from
international competitions and a series of selection events.
Wang Lian, a deputy director of
the shooting and archery sports management center of the
China's General Administration of
Sport, said that the recent selections showed that a young
generation of shooters has taken over the torch from their
predecessors.
"The best athlete comes from competition. The subsequent
training will focus on bringing out their best form for the Olympic
Games. We will help athletes maintain a positive mentality and stay
grounded," Wang said.
As an event in which China
enjoyed traditional advantages at the Olympic Games, shooting has
often bagged the first gold for the Chinese delegation at the
global multi-sports showpiece. China has obtained full quotas in pistol,
rifle, and team events of the Paris 2024 Summer Olympics.
Rossi holds high expectations for China's performance in Paris.
"With China securing full quotas for the Paris Games, there is great anticipation for
China's performance. I'm confident
that Chinese athletes will showcase their skills, determination,
and sportsmanship on the world stage, inspiring future generations
of shooters," he noted.
China finished the Baku World
Championships on top of the medal table with 15 golds, 7 silvers
and 6 bronzes in August 2023.
"China's outstanding
performance at the world championships underscores the nation's
significant role in advancing the global development of shooting
sports. China's dedication to
nurturing talent, investing in training programs, and fostering a
culture of excellence has undoubtedly contributed to the sport's
growth and popularity worldwide," said Rossi.
Two world cups in Zhejiang
During his visit to the Hangzhou Asian Games held in East
China's Zhejiang Province in
September 2023, Rossi was grateful to
the city for presenting a spectacular event.
"I hope that China can host
other international tournaments," said the ISSF president.
Rossi's wish has since turned into reality. Ningbo and Hangzhou in Zhejiang will host the ISSF World Cup in 2025
and 2026, respectively, according to an announcement made by the
shooting governing body on March
2.
Along with the Olympic shooting events and the world
championships, the annual tournament is one of the three elite
international shooting competitions and serves as a crucial
qualifier for Olympic shooting events.
Ningbo and Hangzhou stand out due to their exceptional
infrastructure, passionate sporting communities and unwavering
commitment to promoting the spirit of sportsmanship, Rossi
said.
These two cities offer world-class facilities and amenities,
ensuring a memorable experience for athletes and spectators alike.
ISSF is happy to have the World Cups in these cities, according to
the president.
The 2026 World Cup will be held at Hangzhou's Fuyang Yinhu Sports Center, which
hosted the shooting, archery and modern pentathlon of the Hangzhou
Asian Games. It's also part of Hangzhou's efforts in leveraging the Asian
Games legacy and build itself into a city of international
competitions.
Elected as the ISSF president in 2022, Rossi said that "the
sport is entering a new era" and he has been committed to
modernizing the sport, which has faced the risk of being
marginalized.
The shooting event at the Paris
2024 Olympics will take place in Chateauroux, 300 kilometers from
the Olympic city. It will be the first time that the shooting event
will take place outside the city hosting the Olympics.
"As we enter a new era in the shooting sport, my vision is to
modernize the sport while preserving its core values of discipline,
integrity and inclusivity. This entails embracing innovation,
technology, and optimized competition formats to enhance the
athlete experience and attract young audiences," said Rossi.
"My plan includes collaborating with stakeholders, investing in
grassroots initiatives, and leveraging digital platforms to broaden
the sport's reach and relevance in today's dynamic world," he
said.
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SOURCE Global Times