China’s Mengxue Zhang, 25, wins gold in the Women’s 10m air pistol event. This is the first gold medal for the Chinese in shooting, and fourth shooting medal overall in Rio.
Zhang was joined in the final three by two other first time Olympians, Vitalina Batsarashkina, 19, of Russia and Anna Korakaki, 20, of Greece. Batsarashkina is the second 19-year-old to win a shooting medal in Rio after Ginny Thrasher won gold in the 10m air rifle event.
China has dominated this event over recent years, winning four of the last five gold medals in the event. They are the first country to claim gold in three straight Games in a single shooting event – men or women. Guo Wenjun, the two-time reigning gold medalist in the event was eliminated in qualification.
Only joining international shooting one year ago, Zhang showed immense composure during the final round. The event, barring the extraordinary, was out of reach by the final three competitors.
Along with Wenjun, event favorite and 2004 gold medalist Olena Kostevych (Ukraine) was eliminated in qualification. American’s Lydia Paterson and Enkelejda Shehaj Bekurti failed to qualify for the final as well.
The final results are as follows:
1. Mengxue Zhang (China)
2. Vitalina Batsarashkina (Russia)
3. Anna Korakaki (Greece)
4. Alejandra Zavala (Mexico)
5. Afaf Elhodhod (Egypt)
6. Sonia Franquet (Spain)
7. Bobana Velickovic (Serbia)
8. Ekaterina Korshunova (Russia)