HANGZHOU – Hosts China bettered the world record en route to gold in the women’s team trap shooting event at the Asian Games in Hangzhou on Sunday.
The Chinese women’s trap team of Li Qingnian, 42, Wu Cuicui, 35, and Zhang Xinqiu, 29, set a world mark of 357 points on their way to winning gold, eclipsing the previous world best of 354 points set by the United States in 2018.
In trap, competitors wield shotguns and aim at clay-based targets being fired rapidly away from the shooter at different angles.
The Chinese trio led in the final with an absolute advantage of 20 hits from the runners-up, Rajeshwari Kumari, Manisha Keer and Preeti Rajak from India.
The bronze went to Mariya Dmitriyenko, Aizhan Dosmagambetova and Anastassiya Prilepina of Kazakhstan with 336 hits.
Kumari, 31, is the daughter of the acting president of the Olympic Council of Asia and former Asian Games shooting champion Randhir Singh.
“I am very happy that she won, and I am very proud that she’s won the medal for India,” said Singh. “For me, (the emotion) is doubled because I’m the president and she wins the silver medal.
“The same thing happened in 1982 when my father (Bhalindra Singh) was (Asian Games Federation) president and I won a medal (at the Delhi Games). So history is repeating itself and the legacy for the family in the sport continues.”
Asked what he told his daughter before the event, he said: “I did not speak to her. She asked me not to call her the day before her event. We have talked about other things but not about her competition. She did well today, actually, the entire Indian team did well because one of the girls (Wu) shot 124 out of 125, which was better than that in the men’s trap,” said Singh.
“She has her own team of coaches and sports psychologists. Nowadays, the younger generation likes to do things their own way. Also, shooting has changed a lot from my time.”
In roller skating, where athletes fly round an oval-shaped track on inline skates in a venue akin to a velodrome or an ice speed skating arena, South Korea’s men secured a one-two in the 1,000m final with Chinese Taipei bagging the bronze.
In the women’s race, South Korea got the bronze and Chinese Taipei registered the one-two.
“I was very nervous, and it took me a while to get used to the arena,” said women’s 1,000m winner, Li Meng-chu. “It was unfamiliar to me, so to get a gold, I feel incredibly excited.
“This means a lot to me. My family and coach are watching here today, and I wanted to make them proud. Every time I win a medal, I think I’m making an improvement.”
On the football pitch, North Korean players clashed with match officials after losing 2-1 in their quarter-final against Japan.
North Korea captain Jang Kuk Chol and teammate Kim Kyong Sok remonstrated furiously with the match referees after the final whistle, prompting security staff to run onto the Xiaoshan Sports Centre Stadium pitch to intervene.
The North Koreans were earlier furious when Uzbek referee Rustam Lutfullin awarded a penalty to Japan after their goalkeeper Kang Juh Yok charged out of the area and clipped Jun Nishikawa’s feet with an outstretched arm.
Yuta Matsumura slotted home the penalty to see Japan through to the semi-finals, where they will face Hong Kong. The other semi-final is between South Korea and Uzbekistan. REUTERS
