China triumph in shooting and diving on golden opening day in Paris

PARIS – China got their Paris Olympics campaign off to a golden start on July 27 as the Asian powerhouses clinched titles in shooting and diving, sending a strong message to their rivals.

Huang Yuting and Sheng Lihao won the first gold medal of the Games in the 10m air rifle mixed-team event. Keum Ji-hyeon and Park Ha-jun of South Korea claimed silver and Alexandra Le and Islam Satpayev of Kazakhstan took the bronze.

Three years after Yang Qian and Yang Haoran won gold in the event in Tokyo, compatriots Huang and Sheng made sure China retained it.

“My main feeling is just happiness, happy to do my nation proud,” Sheng, 19, said. “The match was quite hard, but I did my best in doing what I had to do. And it’s only the beginning for me.”

Huang, 17, added that she was also “honoured and happy” to clinch gold for her country.

China, who are also the reigning world champions, did not have it easy in the final despite racing to a 14-8 lead after the first 11 shots at the Chateauroux Shooting Centre.

Keum and Park staged a late comeback to reduce the gap at 14-12 but the Chinese pair prevailed 16-12 in the end.

Earlier, the Kazakh duo of Le and Satpayev clinched the first medal of the Paris Games with a 17-5 romp against the German pair of Anna Janssen and Maximilian Ulbrich in the bronze-medal match.

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

Later in the pool, Chen Yiwen and Chang Yani began China’s bid to capture all eight Olympic diving golds by winning the women’s synchronised 3m springboard event.

First-time Olympians Chen and Chang, who arrived in Paris having won three consecutive world titles, finished on 337.68 points.

China have now won six Olympic titles in a row in the event.

Chen, 25, and Chang, more than two years her junior, kicked off the competition with a back dive in the pike position to loud cheers from the fans, many of whom were dressed in China’s team jacket and waving national flags.

Sarah Bacon and Kassidy Cook of the United States, who performed the same routines as Chen and Chang, gave the Chinese duo a scare after scoring equal points in the second round.

The Americans fell short in following dives, however, and took silver with 314.64 points.

“We both hope we can reach the best standards for ourselves, and showcase the best of Chinese diving to the world,” said Chang.

Spectators at the Olympic Aquatics Centre, a new venue built for the Games in Saint-Denis, filled up the bulk of the seats to create a festive atmosphere. Many were draped in national flags and cheered as the divers performed twists and somersaults before the final plunge.

Chen, the world No. 1, is also set to compete with her best friend Chang in the 3m individual event.

Meanwhile, Samoa’s boxing coach Lionel Elika Fatupaito has died during the Games, the International Boxing Association (IBA) said on July 27.

According to reports in Samoan media, the 60-year-old had a cardiac arrest and died the previous day while at the Olympic Village.

“We at the IBA extend our heartfelt condolences to the family, friends, and colleagues of Lionel Elika Fatupaito, the national boxing coach of Samoa, who tragically passed away during Paris 2024,” the IBA said in a statement.

“Lionel’s dedication and passion for the sport have left an indelible mark on the boxing community. His legacy will continue to inspire future generations.”

Heavyweight Ato Plodzicki-Faoagali is the only Samoan boxer competing at the Paris Olympics.

In other news, the men’s street skateboarding competition – both preliminaries and final – was postponed on July 27, as rain poured down on the outdoor urban park venue at La Concorde. The competition has been rescheduled to July 29. REUTERS, AFP