China's Asian Shooting Championship dominance signals a promising future for Paris Olympics

Shooting has long been a source of prowess and confidence for the Chinese contingent at the Olympic Games, serving as the catalyst for igniting the fervor of the country's sports enthusiasts during the summer extravaganza.

Let's rewind to the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics, where Xu Haifeng secured China's historic first Olympic gold medal in the 50-meter free pistol shooting final. Since that groundbreaking moment, Chinese shooters have continued to astound the world by consistently claiming coveted gold medals on the opening day of the tournaments, setting the stage for Team China's triumphant start in seven different editions of the Olympics.

As we enter the preparatory phase for the upcoming Paris Olympic Games, the Chinese shooting team's overall dominance shows no signs of waning.  

In the 2022 World Shooting Championships, China secured an impressive haul of four gold medals in the pistol and rifle events. Building on that success, this year's World Championships witnessed an even more remarkable achievement, as the Chinese squad clinched an unprecedented six gold medals in pistol and rifle, setting a new record. 

The recently concluded Asian Shooting Championships in Changwon, South Korea, further underscored the exceptional form of Chinese athletes, as they claimed a staggering total of 33 gold, 20 silver and 21 bronze medals, firmly securing the top spot on the medal tally. 

It is worth noting that, through their outstanding performance in this edition of the competition, Chinese shooters secured the maximum quota places in both the pistol and rifle events for the Paris Olympic Games, making them the first team in the world to achieve such a feat. 

The Chinese shooting team has already secured an impressive 14 Olympic quota places through their stellar performances at the 2022 and 2023 World Championships. Therefore, their focus in Changwon was to secure the remaining two quota spots, and they did so with flying colors. 

In the women's 25m pistol event, Liu Rui, Feng Sixuan and Zhao Nan showcased their superb adeptness and teamwork, ultimately bagging the gold in the team event. Additionally, Liu's individual performance was nothing short of sensational, as she emerged as the champion in the individual event, further solidifying her status as a top-tier athlete in her discipline.

Moving on to the men's 50m rifle three positions event, Du Linshu, Tian Jiaming and Yu Hao demonstrated their unrivalled expertise and determination. They not only pocketed the gold in the team event, but also left their mark by shattering the world record. With this exceptional display, the Chinese shooting team have managed to seal all 16 quota places available in the pistol and rifle events for the Paris Olympics.

After achieving their objectives in the Asian Shooting Championship, Chinese shooters are set to return to their homeland and head to Chengdu for a preliminary selection tournament for the Paris Olympics. Subsequently, they will make their way to Doha to participate in the World Cup Finals.  

As the footsteps of the Paris Olympics draw closer, the Chinese shooting team stand fully prepared. They will enter the competition in optimal form and at the highest level, vying to bring home the ultimate glory for their nation, once again.