The 2024 Paris Olympics saw thrilling action in the shooting events, with new champions emerging and records falling. In the women’s 10m air rifle competition, 16-year-old South Korean shooter Ban Hyo-jin clinched the gold medal in a nail-biting finish. Ban set an Olympic record with 634.5 points in the qualification round and went on to win a shoot-off against China’s Huang Yuting in the final, scoring 10.4 to Huang’s 10.3. This victory marked South Korea’s 100th gold medal in Olympic history.The men’s 10m air rifle event saw China’s Sheng Lihao dominate the field, securing his second gold medal of the Games. The 19-year-old world record holder set a new Olympic record with a score of 252.2 points. Sweden’s Victor Lindgren claimed silver with 251.4 points, while Croatia’s Miran Maricic took bronze with 230 points.India’s hopes for a medal in the event were dashed as Arjun Babuta finished fourth in a heartbreakingly close contest. The 25-year-old from Chandigarh maintained strong scores throughout most of the final but faltered in the crucial moments. A 9.5 on his final shot ended his podium hopes, leaving him with a total score of 208.4 points, just shy of the bronze medal position. Despite the disappointment, Babuta’s performance marked him as the third Indian shooter to reach a final at the Paris 2024 Games.As the Olympics progress, these results highlight the intense competition and the emergence of young talent in shooting events. The Games continue to provide thrilling moments and showcase the best of athletic prowess from around the world.
Key points
- South Korea’s Ban Hyo-jin won gold in women’s 10m air rifle, setting an Olympic record.
- China’s Sheng Lihao claimed gold in men’s 10m air rifle with a new Olympic record.
- India’s Arjun Babuta finished fourth in men’s 10m air rifle, narrowly missing a medal.
