SPORT / MISCELLANY
China beat US to win 10m air rifle mixed team final
Published: Jul 28, 2021 01:03 AM
Gold medalists Yang Qian (center left) and Yang Haoran (center right) celebrate on the podium following the 10-meter air rifle mixed team finals on Tuesday in Tokyo. Photo: VCG

Gold medalists Yang Qian (center left) and Yang Haoran (center right) celebrate on the podium following the 10-meter air rifle mixed team finals on Tuesday in Tokyo. Photo: VCG

The Chinese pair of Yang Qian/Yang Haoran defeated the United States' Mary Carolynn Tucker/Lucas Kozeniesky 17-13 in the 10-meter air rifle mixed team event final at the Tokyo Olympics on Tuesday.

This is the second gold for Yang Qian, who won the first gold of this Games in the women's individual event at the Asaka Shooting Range. The Olympic debutant thus became the first-ever Chinese shooter to take two golds from one Olympics.

"I feel happy and excited to win such honor," said the 21-year-old who expressed gratitude for the support from her country and coach.

She continued to emphasize that she would be "a simple self."

"After walking down the podium, everything starts from zero. I need to always remember why I got started in the first place," she said.

Winning his first Olympic gold after an individual bronze earlier, Yang Haoran expressed satisfaction over his second Olympic journey.

"I was under huge pressure, but managed to handle my ­nervousness during the match and keep a cool head. I'm ­satisfied with the results," he noted.

"There's still a long way ahead, just keep working hard and improving," said the 25-year-old, who said earlier that he wished to feature in 50-­meter three positions event for the next Olympics in Paris, France.

Shooters from both sides were in good form as the match was tied four times before the two Yangs shot for 21.3 points to the 20.8 of their opponents to win the third gold for the Chinese shooting team.

Earlier, Yulia Karimova/Sergey Kamenskiy helped the Russian Olympic Committee win bronze with a 17-9 victory over South Korea.