On March 24, Beijing time, the 2023 FIFA (Rifle) World Cup continued in India. Following the first match day, the Chinese team won two gold medals again, leading the gold medal table with 5 golds, 1 silver and 2 bronze. In the men's air rifle final, Chinese shooter Sheng Lihao defeated Du Linshu to win the championship. In the women's air rifle final, 17-year-old Huang Yuting defeated America's Tukel 16-4 to win the gold medal. Previously, Huang Yuting also partnered with Sheng Lihao to win the mixed team gold medal for men's and women's air rifles, and the two have become the double gold kings of this World Cup.
From the current staffing of the Chinese shooting team, men's 10-meter air rifle, women's 10-meter air rifle, mixed team air rifle, women's 25m air pistol, mixed team air pistol and men's air rifle three-position are expected to compete for gold medals at the Paris Olympics. In this FIFA World Cup India competition, the Chinese team played with a young team, aiming to fully train newcomers and enhance the bench depth of the Paris Olympics.
In the mixed team competition of men's and women's air pistols, Qian Wei and Liu Jinyao won gold medals in the gold medal match against the Indian pair, while the other Chinese pair Li Xue and Hu Pengqi won bronze medals. In the mixed team final, Sheng Lihao and Huang Yuting defeated Hungary by a landslide, helping the Chinese team win another world championship after the Olympics. In the women's 10m air rifle gold medal match, Huang Yuting had the last laugh in a strong conversation with American star Tucker, and won the gold medal with a big score of 16-4.
It is worth mentioning that in last season's World Championships in Cairo, Egypt, Huang Yuting was the runner-up. Winning the World Cup this time, the Chinese shooting talent made up for the regret of a year ago. In the past two years, Huang Yuting has been the most eye-catching athlete in China's women's 10m air rifle event. Whether in the team trials, national championships, or the World Championship and World Cup, Huang Yuting has never disappointed. What is even more amazing is that Huang Yuting has scored 10.8 rings and 10.9 rings in the game many times, and the International Shooting Federation even specially published an article to express congratulations!
From the perspective of strength and competitive status, Huang Yuting has surpassed the Tokyo Olympic champion Yang Qian and has become the absolute core of the Chinese women's team. Not surprisingly, Huang Yuting will represent the Chinese team in the women's 10m air rifle and mixed team events at the Paris Olympics. In the men's 10m air rifle event, Sheng Lihao and Du Linshu of the Chinese team successfully won the championship and runner-up. Some people analyzed that the Chinese team composed of Yang Haoran, Huang Yuting and Sheng Lihao may have locked the Paris Olympic air rifle mixed team champion in advance!
(Luo Treasurer)