Olympics: Chinese shooter Yang Qian wins first gold of Tokyo Games
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Yang Qian claimed gold with an Olympic record score of 251.8.
PHOTO: AFP
TOKYO (AFP, REUTERS) - Chinese shooter Yang Qian won the first gold of the Tokyo Olympics on Saturday (July 24), snatching a dramatic last-shot victory from Russia's Anastasiia Galashina in the women's 10m air rifle final.
Yang claimed gold with an Olympic record score of 251.8, edging ahead of Galashina on 251.1 and Switzerland's Nina Christen on 230.6.
Galashina had looked poised to claim gold heading into the last shot, but stumbled with 8.9 on her final effort to allow Yang to seal victory.
"I was really nervous. The competition was really tight, but I'm so happy that I could win," Yang said after winning an event which did not feature a single medallist from Rio.
"We did train how to perform under pressure. The coaches would actually create a nerve-wracking atmosphere and try to pressure us," she later told reporters through a translator, her long hair pinned back with a yellow barrette.
Galashina said the pressure got to her on the final shot.
"Perhaps my nervousness took over," Galashina said, adding she was still "euphoric" with a medal in her first Olympics.
"We did train how to perform under pressure. The coaches would actually create a nerve-wracking atmosphere and try to pressure us," she later told reporters through a translator, her long hair pinned back with a yellow barrette.
Galashina said the pressure got to her on the final shot.
"Perhaps my nervousness took over," Galashina said, adding she was still "euphoric" with a medal in her first Olympics.
That pressure also weighed heavily on South Korean shooting great Jin Jong-oh, whose quest for a record-extending fifth individual Olympic gold fell short when he failed to qualify for the final of the men's 10m air pistol.
Javad Foroughi comfortably beat an elite field to win gold, Iran's first ever shooting medal, with a Games record total of 244.8 in the final.
Foroughi told reporters he was able to maintain his composure in the final because he had stumbled in qualification but still made it through.
"That's why I was relaxed during the final because in the qualification round I was so nervous and still did well," he said.
Serbian Damir Mikec finished second on 237.9, ahead of 2008 Beijing Olympics champion Pang Wei of China. Defending Olympic champion Hoang Xuan Vinh of Vietnam could not make the final.
Javad Foroughi comfortably beat an elite field to win gold, Iran's first ever shooting medal, with a Games record total of 244.8 in the final.
Foroughi told reporters he was able to maintain his composure in the final because he had stumbled in qualification but still made it through.
"That's why I was relaxed during the final because in the qualification round I was so nervous and still did well," he said.
Serbian Damir Mikec finished second on 237.9, ahead of 2008 Beijing Olympics champion Pang Wei of China. Defending Olympic champion Hoang Xuan Vinh of Vietnam could not make the final.
The first medal ceremony of the Games saw Yang presented with her gold by International Olympic Committee president Thomas Bach.
Yang draped the medal around her neck after being handed the gold on a tray offered by Bach, in keeping with Covid-19 protocols in place at the Games.
"I'm extremely proud and happy to win," said Yang.
"This is a gift to the Chinese Communist Party for their 100 years anniversary."
"This is a gift to the Chinese Communist Party for their 100 years anniversary."
Yang said she was looking forward to getting home and eating her mother's fried shrimp.
With fans barred from venues, only a handful of Chinese support staff were on hand to congratulate Yang after the win.
Christen took bronze ahead of Norway's Jeanette Hegg Duestad, who led after the qualifying round.
