Toyota:South Korea secured the silver medal in a pistol shooting team event at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, following a crucial error by a leading shooter.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the trio of Yang Ji-in, Oh Ye-jin, and Bong Seo-rin were strong contenders for the team title, competing at the Aichi Prefectural General Shooting Gallery. Yang Ji-in, the 2024 Olympic individual champion, was also aiming for an individual medal. The team standings were determined by the combined scores of the three shooters in the individual qualification round.
The qualification round was split into two parts: precision and rapid fire, with each section requiring 30 shots divided into six five-shot series. The precision stage had a five-minute time limit per series, while the rapid fire stage had a strict three-second limit per shot.
Yang's misfire occurred during the rapid fire stage when she failed to shoot her 21st shot within the three-second limit, resulting in a zero-point miss. She fell from first to 16th place with 575 points as a result. This error caused South Korea to drop from first to fourth in the team standings. However, Bong Seo-rin finished with 581 points, lifting South Korea to second place, while securing seventh in the individual qualification to proceed to the finals.
Oh Ye-jin scored 579 points, placing 10th, and Yang ended in 17th place. South Korea finished with a combined 1,735 points, just behind China¾¢s 1,743 points. A successful shot by Yang could have secured the team championship for South Korea. Despite the setback, Yang led all shooters with 27 inner-10s.
Yang expressed deep regret, stating, "I am really sorry to my teammates who have worked so hard together to get ready for this competition."