Last-Minute Team Reunion Nets Silver for South Korean Shooters at Paris Olympics

PARIS — South Korean rifle shooters Park Ha-jun and Keum Ji-hyeon clinched the silver medal in the 10-meter air rifle mixed team event at the Paris Olympics on Saturday, marking South Korea’s first medal of the 33rd Olympiad.

According to Yonhap News Agency, the pairing of Park and Keum, both 24, was a last-minute decision influenced by recent performance metrics and their past success together, including a World Cup title two years ago. The federation originally had Park teamed with 16-year-old Ban Hyo-jin and Keum with 19-year-old Choe Dae-han. Changes were made just two days before the competition, positioning Park and Keum to reunite based on Keum’s superior recent performances and their proven chemistry.

During the competition, Park and Keum lost to Sheng Lihao and Huang Yuting of China with a score of 16-12, where teams earned points by combining scores from single shots aiming for the first to reach 16 points. Despite winning the first series, Park and Keum faced challenges but managed to keep the score tight, making it 14-12 before ultimately conceding the match.

Reflecting on their performance, Keum emphasized the deep trust and nostalgia that reinforced their partnership, while Park acknowledged some initial awkwardness that gave way to a renewed camaraderie. Meanwhile, the newly formed team of Choe and Ban, lacking in experience, finished 22nd in the qualification stage but supported Park and Keum enthusiastically from the stands.

Looking ahead, both shooters are set to compete in the individual events, with the qualification rounds and finals scheduled for the following days. Keum, motivated by a strong desire to outperform the Chinese team, expressed her aspirations for individual gold and a deep personal commitment to continue her athletic career post-childbirth, planning for another Olympic run post-Paris.

Park also shared his anticipation for the individual competition, aiming for redemption against Sheng Lihao, who narrowly defeated him at the Hangzhou Asian Games. Determined to turn the page, Park is ready for a fresh challenge in the upcoming event.