On October 15, the Shooting World Cup Finals kicked off in India. The Chinese shooting team played with an all-main lineup. On the first day of the men's and women's 10m air rifle events, Sheng Lihao and Huang Yuting of the Chinese shooting team both won the championship, continuing their good form this year and laying a solid foundation for their preparation for the Los Angeles Olympic cycle.
The men's and women's 10m air rifles are the traditional advantages of the Chinese shooting team, and many world and Olympic champions have also emerged in these two events. In the past three years, Sheng Lihao and Huang Yuting have gradually taken over the banner of their respective projects, and they have also become leaders. Paris 2024 will be Sheng's second Olympic experience, as he won the men's 10m air rifle and mixed men's and women's air rifle team titles. Huang Yuting won one gold and one silver in her first Olympic experience. Although she failed to win gold in the women's 10m air rifle event, she and Sheng Li Hao won the first gold medal in the air rifle mixed team event.
Sheng Lihao and Huang Yuting are both post-00 athletes, both of whom are very young and have world-class strength. They are also key athletes for the Chinese shooting team during the Olympic cycle in Los Angeles. Interestingly, Sheng Lihao and Huang Yuting have gradually become well-known to the outside world due to their outstanding results in the Paris Olympics, and their online names "Brother Ganfan" and "Sister Atiao" have also been called.
After the Paris Olympics, the Chinese shooting team also quickly entered the preparation cycle for the Los Angeles Olympics. This World Cup Finals is also the most important international event at the end of the year. The Chinese shooting team played with an all-main lineup. And Huang Yuting and Sheng Lihao have maintained their previous good form, which is gratifying.
Huang Yuting won the women's 10m air rifle final with a score of 254.5 rings, which set a new world record in the final. It is worth mentioning that with the championship results of the World Cup Finals, Huang Yuting's shooting career has won the championship Grand Slam, and has collected the championships of the Olympic Games, the World Cup Finals, and the World Championships. For Huang Yuting, the next goal is undoubtedly to win the women's 10m air rifle championship at the Los Angeles Olympics. She is also missing this individual champion.
Sheng Lihao won the thrilling victory in the final, and he finally won the men's 10m air rifle event with a 0.1 ring advantage. Sheng Lihao has maintained a very good unbeaten record this year, with the two World Cups before the Olympics, the Paris Olympics and this World Cup Finals. Although Sheng Lihao did not win the 2024 Male Athlete of the Year, which is a bit regrettable, there is no doubt that 2024 is his year. For Sheng Lihao, the next urgent goal is to win the men's 10m air rifle individual championship at next year's World Championships. If Sheng Lihao continues to maintain this form, then it is probably only a matter of time before he is close to achieving this goal.
Text/Beiqing Sports Song Xiang